| Nature of Incident: |
Additional Arrests in Gang Related Robberies |
| Report Number(s): |
OPD: 18-8809, 18-22123, 18-22990, 18-23010, 18-23015
VCSO: 18-12508, 18-33298, 18-35983
VPD: 18-3050, 18-3258
SPPD: 18-0142
|
| Location: |
Various locations within the County of Ventura |
| Date & Time: |
January through March, 2018 |
Agencies
Responsible: |
Oxnard Police Department, Ventura Police Department, Ventura County Sheriff’s Office, Federal Bureau of Investigations
|
| (S)uspects, (V)ictims, (P)arty, (D)ecedent |
City of Residence
|
Age |
(S) Agustin Martinez
(S) Freddy Tavares
(S) Alex Mariscal
(S) Victor Garcia
|
Oxnard
Oxnard
Oxnard
Oxnard |
19
19
18
18 |
| Narrative: |
Between January and March of 2018, at least 11 robberies occurred within the cities of Camarillo, Oxnard, Santa Paula and Ventura which investigators believed were related. During each robbery, suspect(s) used force or fear to rob victims of cash and/or property. The majority of the robberies involved at least one of the suspects being armed with a handgun.
During the month of January 2018, detectives from the Oxnard Police Department and Ventura County Sheriff’s Office began investigating a series of robberies from Little Caesar’s Pizza establishments which took place in the cities of Camarillo, Oxnard and Santa Paula. In two of these robberies, suspects pointed handguns at employees and threatened them. No one was injured during these incidents.
In late February and early March 2018, additional robberies occurred within the cities of Camarillo, Oxnard and Ventura. During these robberies, firearms were used to threaten victims. During one incident in Oxnard, a victim sustained significant injuries which required medical attention after he was battered by one of the suspects. From investigative leads, detectives determined these crimes were related to the prior series of Little Caesar’s Pizza robberies.
On March 5, 2018, officers from the Ventura Police Department responded to the McDonald’s Restaurant located in the 4100 block of E. Main Street in Ventura reference a robbery involving two suspects. Upon arrival, responding officers attempted to stop a possible suspect vehicle leaving the area. A vehicle pursuit ensued before the suspects stopped and fled on foot. Officers searched the area and located, and arrested, both robbery suspects, (S) Agustin Martinez and (S) Freddy Tavares. Both Martinez and Tavares were found to be in possession of evidence connecting them to several of the robberies. Detectives also determined Martinez and Tavares were members of a criminal street gang based out of the city of Oxnard.
During the months of March and April 2018, detectives from the Oxnard Police Department, Ventura Police Department and the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office worked together to identify additional suspects. This resulted in the service of search warrants in five different locations within the city of Oxnard. (S) Alex Mariscal and (S) Victor Garcia were arrested after evidence was located which confirmed their participation in robberies with Martinez and/or Tavares, as well as their membership in the same criminal street gang. Four handguns were also seized, including one which was confirmed to be stolen.
Martinez is currently in custody on several felony counts of robbery with gang allegations and one felony count of evading a peace officer with a vehicle; his bail is set at $250,000. Tavares is currently in custody on several felony counts of robbery with gang allegations; his bail is set at $250,000. Mariscal is currently in custody on one felony count of robbery with a gang allegation; his bail is set at $500,000. Garcia is currently in custody on two felony counts of robbery with gang allegations and one felony count of vandalism; his bail is set at $250,000.
|
| Prepared by: |
Detective Jarrod Foote |
|
| News Release Date: |
June 15, 2018 |
|
| Media Follow-Up Contact: |
Detective Jarrod Foote (805) 797-6402
Detective Sergeant Ron Chips (805) 765-0617
|
|
| Approved by: |
Captain Jeff Miller |
|
