Full Notification

Nature of Incident: Negligent Discharge of a Firearm

Report Number: 19-82118

Location: 667 Spring Street, Oak View

Date & Time: 05/28/2019, 8:30 PM

Unit(s) Responsible: Ojai Police Department and Investigations Bureau, Sheriff’s Office Major Crimes Bureau
 

(S)uspects, (V)ictims, (P)arty, (D)ecedent, City of Residence, Age
Steven Dobbins, Oak View, 59
(P) Daniel Castor, Oak View, 22
 

Narrative: 

On 5/28/2019, there was a report of someone shooting a firearm inside their residence at 667 Spring Street in Oak View CA.
 
At approximately 8:15 PM, patrol deputies from the Ojai Police Station responded to 667 Spring Street.  Per “911” calls, there were two individuals inside the residence fighting with each other.  During the altercation, one of the subjects had fired rounds from a semi-automatic pistol.  Upon their arrival, deputies found (A) Steven Dobbins and (P) Daniel Castor struggling with one another.  Deputies detained both subjects and located a .45 caliber pistol in close proximity to where the subjects had been.  Detectives from the Ojai Police Department and Sheriff’s Major Crimes Bureau responded to the scene and initiated an investigation. 
 
During interviews with Dobbins and Castor, detectives learned both subjects lived together at the residence.  That evening, they had been involved in an argument.  During the argument, one of the subjects armed themselves with a semi-automatic pistol.  This led to an altercation between the two subjects, during which several pistol rounds were fired throughout the residence. 
 
After interviews were completed and evidence was collected, detectives brought the case to the Ventura County District Attorney’s Office for review.  Ultimately, the District Attorney’s Office chose to file one count of negligent discharge of a firearm in a residence against Dobbins.
 
On 6/12/2019, detectives form the Ojai Police Department located and arrested Dobbins for the crime.  Detectives also served Dobbins with a Gun Violence Restraining Order, which prohibited
 
 
him from possessing firearms until a scheduled court hearing.  Based on the Gun Violence Restraining Order, Detectives confiscated nineteen firearms and several thousand rounds of ammunition from Dobbins.
 
The Ventura County Sheriff’s Office is committed to safeguarding the community from gun violence in any form.  Anyone with additional information regarding this incident is encouraged to contact Detective Douglas at the Ojai Police Department.
 
Prepared by: Detective Douglas
News Release Date: 6/14/2019
Media Follow-Up Contact: Detective Douglas, 805-477-7042
 
Approved by:
Captain James Fryhoff, Chief of Police, Ojai, Ca

Booking Photo Release: YES

Ventura County Crime Stoppers will pay up to $1,000 reward for information, which leads to the arrest and criminal complaint against the person(s) responsible for this crime.  The caller may remain anonymous.  The call is not recorded.  Call Crime Stoppers at 800-222-TIPS (8477).
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