Ventura County – An organized search for a suspected ID thief and forger who had been plying his illicit trade throughout the Camarillo area saw Ventura County Sheriff’s Department Special Enforcement Deputies working in concert with Camarillo Police Patrol units on January 23rd.
The reported suspect, known probationer Nicholas Medina-Smith, 20, had been spotted by a Camarillo Patrol deputy at the Camarillo Village Square Shopping Center at approximately 10:30 a.m. on the 23rd. According to VCSD spokesman Sgt. Steve Capuano, Medina-Smith was less than compliant when the deputy attempted to make contact with him, fleeing the area on foot. At that point, additional law enforcement personnel—including helicopter patrol surveillance and K9 units were engaged in the pursuit of Medina-Smith. It was however, “a citizen’s tip”, Capuano reported, that directed deputies to a nearby residence where Medina-Smith had been seen gaining ingress.
With additional backup units arriving at the scene and maintaining close surveillance of the residence, deputies soon observed their prey “jumping over a backyard fence”. At that time, deputies flooded the area and promptly took Medina-Smith into custody. Subsequent field investigation indicated that Medina-Smith had in his possession various items of stolen property removed from the house in which he was hiding. He was then transported to Ventura County Jail where he was booked charges of identity theft, forgery, burglary, possession of stolen property, theft with prior felony violations, and evasion of arrest. He is currently held in custody with bail set at $50,000.
Read more:
VCSTAR: Police officers arrest identity theft and forgery suspect in Camarillo
Camarillo Acorn: Tip leads to alleged burglar’s arrest
