Ventura County
Articles
Latest Ventura County stories — newest first.
Public SafetyAug 6, 20263 minVentura County Confirms First Measles Case Since 2017 Following International Travel
Ventura County public health officials have confirmed a case of measles linked to recent international travel, marking the region's first reported infection since 2017. Health authorities are conducting contact tracing and warning residents who visited several high-traffic commercial and medical locations across Oxnard and Ventura between late July and early August to monitor for potential symptoms.
Lana J. Yang
CRIMEAug 6, 20264 minThousand Oaks Police Issue Public Safety Warning Over Rising Sextortion Scams Targeting Local Teens
The Thousand Oaks Police Department and the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office have issued an urgent advisory warning parents and teenagers about a surge in online sextortion scams targeting local juveniles. Scammers on social media, messaging apps, and online gaming platforms pose as peers to solicit explicit photographs before demanding financial payouts under threat of public exposure. Authorities emphasize that paying extortionists never works and urge families to report incidents immediately.
Lana J. Yang
Local NewsAug 6, 20264 minStartup Ventura Founder Luke Erickson Joins The Joe Knows Ventura Podcast
On the latest episode of the Joe Knows Ventura podcast launching this Friday, August 7th, host Joe sits down with Luke Erickson, founder and Executive Director of Startup Ventura. Erickson breaks down his ambitious plan to build a free, non-dilutive startup accelerator designed to keep high-paying tech jobs, top-tier talent, and institutional venture capital right here in Ventura County without requiring local founders to give up equity.
Lana J. Yang
CRIMEAug 6, 20263 minSuspected Ringleader of Serial Copper Theft Operations Arrested in Ventura County
Marvin Moises Colindres-Perez, 43, of North Hills, was arrested by Ventura County Sheriff’s detectives during a search warrant execution on August 5, 2026. Authorities accuse Colindres-Perez of leading a multi-month copper wire theft operation across unincorporated areas of Fillmore, Moorpark, and Ojai that caused hundreds of thousands of dollars in damage and severely disrupted phone, internet, and 911 emergency communications.
Lana J. Yang
GeneralAug 5, 20262 minMoorpark Police Issue Scam Alert Over Aggressive Door-to-Door Landscaping Scheme
Moorpark law enforcement authorities have issued a public safety warning regarding an aggressive door-to-door landscaping scam targeting local residential neighborhoods. Unlicensed solicitors offer low initial quotes for fertilizer or bark, complete unauthorized work, and then aggressively demand thousands of dollars from intimidation-targeted homeowners. Police remind residents that all door-to-door solicitors in Moorpark are legally required to display a city-issued permit on their clothing.
Lana J. Yang
CRIMEAug 5, 20263 minSanta Paula Man Arrested Following Armed Knifepoint Robbery at Harvard Boulevard Circle K
Michael Zepeda, 30, of Santa Paula, was arrested by Santa Paula Police officers following a knifepoint robbery at a Circle K convenience store on Harvard Boulevard. Wearing a ski mask, Zepeda allegedly threatened two store clerks with a knife and stole cash before fleeing into a nearby flood channel. Police officers and a K9 unit located Zepeda, along with the weapon and cash, within minutes.
Lana J. Yang
Local NewsAug 4, 20263 minVentura County District Attorney and Cal Lutheran Announce New East County Family Justice Center Partnership
The Ventura County District Attorney's Office and California Lutheran University have announced a new partnership to locate the future East County Family Justice Center on the Cal Lutheran campus in Thousand Oaks. Following approval of a lease agreement by the Ventura County Board of Supervisors on August 4, 2026, the new center at 26 Faculty Street will offer comprehensive, free support services for survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, elder abuse, child abuse, and hate crimes.
Lana J. Yang
Local NewsAug 4, 20262 minOxnard Police and Fire Departments Host Free Community National Night Out Events Tonight
Communities across Oxnard are celebrating National Night Out tonight, Tuesday, August 4, 2026. Hosted by 12 local Neighborhood Councils in partnership with the Oxnard Police Department and Oxnard Fire Department, the free family-friendly events feature emergency vehicle displays, games, food, local resource booths, and opportunities to build neighborhood connections.
Lana J. Yang
CRIMEAug 4, 20263 minSimi Valley Man Pleads Guilty to Second-Degree Murder in Fatal Stabbing of His Father
Gerardo Arroyo Almanza, 37, of Simi Valley, has pled guilty to second-degree murder and three counts of criminal threats after fatally stabbing his father, Alfredo Arroyo Sancen, during an April 2024 welfare check. Almanza admitted to using a deadly weapon and prior strike offenses following a temporary stay at a mental health facility. He faces up to 30 years to life plus an additional 9 years and 4 months in state prison when sentenced in September 2026.
Lana J. Yang
Local NewsAug 4, 20261 minPort Hueneme Police K9 Giorgio Helps Santa Paula Officers Recover Hidden Firearm
Port Hueneme Police Department K9 Giorgio and handler Officer Joel Magana assisted the Santa Paula Police Department during a high-stakes threats investigation and weapons search. Thanks to K9 Giorgio’s detection work, officers uncovered a concealed firearm belonging to a prohibited person with active pending criminal cases.
Lana J. Yang
CRIMEAug 4, 20264 minThree Arrested After Multi-Month Illegal Firearms and Narcotics Investigation in Newbury Park
A multi-month joint law enforcement operation into illicit weapons and drug trafficking in Newbury Park has resulted in the arrest of three local residents and the seizure of over 23 firearms, including assault weapons and privately made "ghost guns." The investigation, led by the Ventura County Sheriff’s Gun Violence Reduction Program, began with a May burglary response and expanded into multiple residential search warrants on Teresa Drive and Lily Court.
Lana J. Yang
CRIMEAug 4, 20264 minOak Park Man Arrested After Violent Knife Attack on Elderly Stepfather Inside Family Home
Chad Nelson, 40, of Oak Park, is being held on $200,000 bail following a violent domestic attack against his elderly stepfather inside their home on East Sunny Vista Avenue. Ventura County Sheriff's deputies arrived at the residence on Thursday night to find Nelson standing over the bleeding 80-year-old victim with a 10-inch butcher knife. Nelson faces multiple felony charges, including assault with a deadly weapon, battery with serious bodily injury, and elder abuse.
Lana J. Yang
CRIMEAug 4, 20264 minFormer Ventura County Compliance Officer Charged with Steering $222K to Wife's Company
Charles Edward Flood IV, 57, a former compliance officer for the Ventura County Health Care Agency, has been charged with two felony counts of conflict of interest after allegedly steering over $222,000 in public contracts to his wife's consulting firm. Flood was arrested in Illinois by state troopers and faces extradition back to California following an investigation triggered by an anonymous whistleblower tip to the county's fraud hotline.
Lana J. Yang
Local NewsAug 4, 20264 minCar Crashes Into Tarzana Library, Driver Evaluated as Building Inspected for Damage
A driver crashed through the side of the Encino-Tarzana Branch Library on Tuesday morning, sending a vehicle into the building. Authorities said no pedestrians or library patrons were injured, while the driver was evaluated and officials began assessing structural damage.
Kristian Thorne
Local NewsJul 31, 20264 minOrganized Retail Theft Suspects Arrested Upon Returning to Camarillo Premium Outlets
Two Los Angeles residents were arrested by Ventura County Sheriff's detectives on July 23, 2026, after returning to the Camarillo Premium Outlets to commit additional retail thefts. Suspects Dalma Nunez and Erwin Shaupingahua were taken into custody with $4,500 in stolen merchandise. The arrest follows a multi-county investigation that began in May after Nunez allegedly led deputies on a 100 mph pursuit down Highway 101.
Lana J. Yang
Local NewsJul 31, 20262 minElderly Driver Dies After Single-Vehicle Collision Into Concrete Wall and Utility Pole in Ventura
An elderly driver in his 70s lost his life early Friday morning following a single-vehicle crash at the intersection of Main Street and Emma Avenue in Ventura. According to preliminary findings from the Ventura Police Department, the sedan was traveling eastbound on Main Street when it veered off the road and struck a concrete wall and a utility pole. The driver was transported to a local hospital, where he succumbed to major injuries.
Lana J. Yang
Public SafetyJul 31, 20263 minThree Adults Cited in Camarillo Undercover Tobacco "Shoulder Tap" Operation
Three adults were cited by the Camarillo Police Department after purchasing tobacco products for underage decoys outside local retailers during a targeted "Shoulder Tap" operation on July 22, 2026. One of the suspects, 50-year-old Victor McDowell, was also charged with narcotics offenses after deputies discovered he was under the influence of a controlled substance and carrying drug paraphernalia.
Lana J. Yang
Local NewsJul 31, 20264 minVentura County District Attorney Files Environmental Enforcement Lawsuit Over Alleged Streambed Destruction Near Santa Paula
Ventura County District Attorney Erik Nasarenko announced a major civil environmental enforcement lawsuit against Guadalupe A. Guzman, Santa Paula Hay and Grain and Ranches, LLC, and related defendants. Filed in Ventura County Superior Court, the complaint alleges unlawful streambed alterations, dam construction, vegetation clearing, and pollution across six properties in the Wheeler Canyon area east of Santa Paula. Prosecutors are seeking strict injunctive relief, full environmental restoration, civil penalties, and remediation cost recovery.
Lana J. Yang
crimeJul 30, 2026OnlyFans Model Adva Levie Arrested Again Over Alleged Theft Scheme Involving Online Dates
Los Angeles model and influencer Adva Levie, also known online as Mia Ventura, has been arrested again after authorities accused her of involvement in a series of theft cases targeting people she met through dating apps. Prosecutors previously charged Levie with multiple felonies, and officials say the latest arrest involves a separate theft allegation in Riverside County and an alleged violation of a court order.
Kristian Thorne
CrimeJul 30, 20264 minRosemead Man Charged in $14,000 Elder Fraud Scam Targeting Thousand Oaks Senior
Yongan Ma, 44, of Rosemead, faces multiple felony charges including conspiracy to commit elder fraud and grand theft after allegedly driving a courier to a Thousand Oaks senior’s home to collect $14,000 in cash. Ventura County prosecutors revealed that the victim was tricked by pop-up alerts and fake federal agents claiming her accounts were linked to money laundering. Ma was arrested in Pasadena and released on his own recognizance over prosecutorial objections.
Lana J. Yang