Ventura – Standing squarely in the “one thing leads to another on Halloween” column, Erick Hernandez, 19, and Edward Juarez, 18, hailing respectively from Ventura and Camarillo, were arrested in the wee morning hours of October 31st following a 911 Emergency call received by the Ventura Police Department Command Center reporting “two gunshots fired” in a Ventura residential area.
According to the media report filed by the Ventura Police Department Watch Commander, “the caller told dispatchers there were four male suspects” who fled the area in a Honda sedan. Moments later, a VPD patrol unit spotted the Honda and proceeded to attempt a traffic stop, at which point the suspect vehicle accelerated through downtown Ventura, then sped through nearby residential areas, leading the pursuing black-and-white on a chase of over a mile before it lost control, bounded over a curb and slammed into a street sign, bringing it to a halt.
Undaunted, the Honda’s four passengers “then exited the vehicle and ran into an apartment complex”, at which time additional VPD units arrived on the scene to pursue the suspects on foot and establish a secure perimeter. A short time later, Juarez and an unnamed Hispanic male juvenile were located and taken into custody. As that occurred, Hernandez was spotted fleeing the area, and a VPD K-9 was sent to interrupt his flight from justice.
As K-9s are difficult to outrun in the best of circumstances, Hernandez was promptly stopped in his tracks and taken into custody by the furry officer.
Hernandez—after being medically cleared at Ventura County Medical Center for injuries sustained during his arrest at the jaws of K-9 fury—was transported to Ventura County Jail and charged with felony evading, possession of a stolen vehicle, prior felon in possession of a firearm, hit and run, and committing a crime in the furtherance of a criminal street gang. Juarez—without dogbites—was booked into Ventura County Jail and charged with resisting arrest, while the male juvenile was cited for resisting arrest and remanded to the custody of his parents.
Read more:
VCSTAR: 3 arrested after leading police on chase
Citizens Journal: Arrests made after shooting in Ventura
