According to SPPD Sgt. Cody Madison, the May 18 incident occurred at about 10:30 p.m. when an officer responded to the 100 block of Ventura Street for a report of multiple parking violations.

“Upon arrival the officer made contact with four subjects inside a illegally parked vehicle,” and Madison said that during the contact with the driver,  identified as Phillip Saenz, 21, he put the vehicle in reverse when the officer told him “multiple times to put the car in park…”

During the encounter Madison said the SPPD Officer “observed in plain view” a methamphetamine pipe inside the vehicle. 

It was only when additional SPPD police arrived that Saenz “eventually complied with officers by putting the vehicle in park.”

Due to locating the methamphetamine pipe a search was conducted of the entire vehicle. 

During the search officers also located a loaded .45 caliber handgun under the driver’s seat.

Saenz was taken into custody for suspicion of possession of a loaded firearm. 

Yajaira Ruiz, 19, of Santa Paula, was taken into custody for suspicion of possession of the methamphetamine pipe. 

The two other subjects in the vehicle were released on scene with charges. 

Saenz and Ruiz were transported to the Santa Paula Police Station for processing. 

Saenz was charged with suspicion of possession of a loaded firearm in a vehicle, possession of concentrated cannabis, and participation in a criminal street gang. Saenz was transported to Ventura County Main Jail in Ventura where he is being held on $100,000 bail. 

Ruiz was released from the Santa Paula Police Station with a citation to appear.