Community
Arrest Related to Fatal Overdose Investigation
| Nature of Incident: | Arrest Related to Fatal Overdose Investigation | ||||
| Report Number: | 21- 80893 | ||||
| Location: | 6400 block of Kingfisher Place- Ventura | ||||
| Date & Time: | August 18, 2021 @ 1200 hours | ||||
| Unit(s) Responsible: | Ventura County Interagency Pharmaceutical Crimes Unit (PCU) Ventura County Sheriff Special Crimes Unit Sheriff’s Gang Unit Ventura County Major Crimes Bureau Ojai Police Department National Guard Counter Drug Task Force |
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| (S)uspects, (V)ictims, (P)arty, (D)ecedent |
City of Residence |
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| (S) Darren Lewis (S) Jason Perry |
Ventura Oak View |
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| Narrative: | |||||
| On August 18, 2021, the Ventura County Sheriff’s Pharmaceutical Crimes Unit (PCU) concluded an investigation into Darren Lewis, who was wanted in connection with his sale of narcotics to an Oak View resident which resulted in their fatal overdose. On June 21, 2021, deputies assigned to the Ojai Police Station were dispatched to a residence in the unincorporated area of Oak View for a fatal drug overdose. Detectives from the Pharmaceutical Crimes Unit and the Major Crimes Bureau handled the death investigation and identified Darren Lewis as the suspect who sold fentanyl to the victim. On August 18, 2021, PCU detectives located Lewis in the City of Oxnard and arrested him along with Jason Perry, as the two subjects were conducting a drug transaction. Detectives then served a search warrant at Lewis’ residence in the City of Ventura. During the service of the search warrant detectives seized evidence related to the original narcotics sale which caused the Oak View death as well as fentanyl, Alprazolam and US Currency which was believed to be proceeds from illegal drug sales. Lewis was booked into the Ventura County Jail for 11351 HS- Possession for Sales of a Controlled Substance and 11352 HS- Sales of a Controlled Substance. Perry was issued a citation for 11350 HS- Possession of a Controlled Substance and released. Lewis’ bail was set at $55,000. He is scheduled for arraignment on August 20, 2021 in Ventura County Superior Court. The public may contact investigators from the Ventura County Interagency Pharmaceutical Crimes Unit at (805) 383-8700 or [email protected] with additional information about this case, or any other information related to narcotics. The Ventura County Pharmaceutical Crimes Unit is a task force made up of members from the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office and the Thousand Oaks Police Department; The primary mission of the task force is combatting the transfer of legal prescription medication and fentanyl to the illegal market. In addition, the task force works to identify and stop new trends of abuse among the younger population and investigates overdoses due to both prescription medication and illicit drug use. |
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| Prepared by: | Sergeant John Hajducko |
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| News Release Date: | August 19, 2021 | ||||
| Media Follow-Up Contact: | Detective Anna Wypchlak (805) 383-8714 |
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| Approved by: | Captain Brian Slominski |
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Address/Location
Ventura County Sheriff's Office
800 S Victoria Ave
Ventura, CA 93003
Contact
Emergency: 9-1-1
Non-emergencies: 805-654-9511