The gun show is held here at the Fairgrounds
Ventura – The Ventura County Fairgrounds, literally a stone’s throw from one of California’s most popular surfing beaches, is frequently the home of assorted trade shows and expositions. Few of those events draw the attention of both the public and of law enforcement to the degree of the Crossroads Gun Show, which took place over the October 24th weekend.
It was on that Saturday morning at 8:45 a.m., as exhibitors were preparing to greet shoppers that, according to the City of Ventura Police Department Watch Commander’s office, “a Ventura Police patrol officer responded” pursuant to the report of a burglary from one of the gun show’s secure vendor booths. The officer conducting the investigation was apprised that “three laptop computers had been stolen,” and that there was surveillance video operating throughout the preceding night.
When the officer at the scene observed the video, he “recognized the suspect and identified him as Brian Kimball,” an 18-year-old transient with whom local law enforcement was familiar. With that identification at hand, seven hours later, while still on area patrol, that same police officer spotted Kimball walking through downtown Ventura and made contact with him.
When Kimball was found to be in possession of one of the purloined computers, he was placed under arrest and transported to Ventura County Jail where he was booked on a charge of commercial burglary. The laptop in Kimball’s possession was returned to its rightful owner, but the other two stolen laptops have yet to be located.
This was Kimball’s 6th arrest this year. On May 24, June 11, August 10, September 9 and October 3 he was arrested, all on drug charges.
