Community
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).
News Story - Narcotics Sales Arrest
| Nature of Incident: | Narcotics Sales Arrest |
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| Report Number: | 21-113681 | ||||
| Location: | City of Thousand Oaks | ||||
| Date & Time: | 9/1/21 | ||||
| Unit(s) Responsible: | Thousand Oaks Directed Enforcement Unit (DEU) Sheriff’s Gang Unit (SGU) |
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| (S)uspects, (V)ictims, (P)arty, (D)ecedent |
City of Residence |
Age | |||
| (S) Ross Cumming (S) Ariannah Bessa |
Thousand Oaks Ojai |
24 24 |
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| Narrative: | |||||
| On August 20, 2021, detectives from the Thousand Oaks Directed Enforcement Unit (DEU) concluded a month long investigation involving narcotics sales in the city of Thousand Oaks. During the month of July 2021, detectives from DEU received information that Cumming recently paroled from prison and was selling heroin and fentanyl to residents of Thousand Oaks. DEU had knowledge that Cumming was previously arrested and convicted of selling narcotics to a Thousand Oaks juvenile which resulted in the juvenile’s death. Detectives assigned to the Thousand Oaks DEU initiated an investigation into Cumming and his involvement in narcotics sales. During the course of the investigation, DEU developed information that Cumming was working in concert with his girlfriend (S) Ariannah Bessa to sell narcotics. On August 20, 2021, DEU detectives, along with detectives assigned to the Sheriff’s Gang Unit (SGU), contacted both Cumming and Bessa in the city of Ventura. During the contact, detectives located evidence indicative of illegal narcotic sales and arrested Cumming and Bessa. Cumming and Bessa were found to be in possession of heroin, fentanyl and multiple digital scales. Cumming and Bessa were booked into the Pre-Trial Detention Facility for a violation of HS 11352 - Possession for Sales of a Controlled Substance, HS 11351 - Offering a Controlled Substance for Sale and PC 182(a)(1) - Conspiracy to Commit a Crime . Cumming is currently in custody and his bail is set at $60,000. Bessa posted bail and was released from custody. The Directed Enforcement Unit (DEU) is made up of members of the Thousand Oaks Police Department. The mission of the unit is to conduct proactive policing utilizing intelligence led policing methods to reduce crime within the city of Thousand Oaks. |
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| Prepared by: | Detective Weston Price | ||||
| News Release Date: | September 1, 2021 |
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| Media Follow-Up Contact: | Detective Weston Price 805-947-8281 [email protected] |
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| Approved by: Booking Photo Release: |
Captain Dean Cook NO |
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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).
Address/Location
Ventura County Sheriff's Office
800 S Victoria Ave
Ventura, CA 93003
Contact
Emergency: 9-1-1
Non-emergencies: 805-654-9511