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Ventura County Sheriff's Office
Friday February 4th, 2022 :: 03:02 p.m. PST

Community

Arrest Related to Fatal Overdose Investigation

Nature of Incident: Arrest Related to Fatal Overdose Investigation
Report Number: 21-60736
Location: 43200 block of Gadsden Avenue-   Lancaster, CA
Date & Time: February 2, 2022 - 1300 hours
Unit(s) Responsible: Ventura County Interagency Pharmaceutical Crimes Unit (PCU)
Moorpark Special Enforcement Detail (SED)
 
(S)uspects, (V)ictims, (P)arty, (D)ecedent

City of Residence

Age
(S) Pablo Johnson
 
Los Angeles
 
30
Narrative:
 
On February 2, 2022, the Ventura County Sheriff’s Pharmaceutical Crimes Unit (PCU) concluded an investigation into Pablo Johnson who was wanted in connection with his sale of narcotics to a Simi Valley resident which resulted in their death.
 
On May 8, 2021, deputies assigned to the Moorpark Patrol Station were dispatched to the 3000 block of Black Avenue in the unincorporated area of Simi Valley reference a subject who was deceased as the result of a fentanyl overdose. PCU detectives took over the investigation and identified Pablo Johnson as the suspect who sold fentanyl to the victim that caused the fatal overdose.

PCU detectives, with the assistance Moorpark SED detectives, located Johnson in the City of Lancaster and arrested him for his involvement in the overdose death. Johnson was also in possession of several vials of anabolic steroids at the time of his arrest.
 
Johnson was booked into the Ventura County Jail for 11352 HS- Sales of a Controlled Substance, 11378 HS- Possession for Sales of a Dangerous Drug, and an unrelated arrest warrant. Johnson’s bail was set at $120,000 and he is scheduled for arraignment on February 4, 2022 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.
 
The Ventura County Sheriff’s Office is an active member of the County Opioid Abuse Suppression Taskforce (COAST).  We have partnered with Ventura County Behavioral Health in a campaign to reduce overdoses and educate the public about the dangers of opioids and other drugs.  Comprehensive information can be found at www.VenturaCountyResponds.org.
 
 
Prepared by: Sergeant John Hajducko
 
 
News Release Date: February 4, 2022  
Media Follow-Up Contact: Detective Anna Wypchlak
 
(805) 383-8714
 
                             
 
Approved by:


 
Captain Brian Slominski
 
 
 
 
           
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) or at www.venturacountycrimestoppers.org
 
 

Address/Location
Ventura County Sheriff's Office
800 S Victoria Ave
Ventura, CA 93003

Contact
Emergency: 9-1-1
Non-emergencies: 805-654-9511

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