Yoschi, K-9 cop
VENTURA — Ventura’s California Street is a powerful magnet for tourists. Lining its streets are numerous upscale retail shops and boutiques offering wares ranging from high-fashion swimsuits to seashell art to fine art and antique emporiums. Sprinkled among the storefronts are a number of popular dining venues, including the longtime local and out-of-towner favorite, Café Fiore.
Known for its elegant bar and table service as well as nightly live music and creative cocktail offerings, once Café Fiore shuts down for the night—the bar closes as per local ordinance at 2:00 a.m.—the street crowds dissipate and things become quiet.
That may explain why, in the late night hours after 2:00 a.m. on August 15th, it was clear to a passersby that something was amiss when a man was observed, as the Ventura Police Department Watch Commander reported, “breaking a front window” of the restaurant.
At that point, witnesses summoned police with a call to 911 Emergency dispatch, and moments later VPD units arrived on the scene.
As officers alighted from their vehicles, they “could hear loud banging coming from inside the business,” and they began establishing a secure perimeter around the building.
Just then, 37-year-old parolee and Ventura resident Michael Waites was observed climbing out of the window he had broken. Officers made verbal contact with Waites at that time, and while he “initially complied with officers’ commands,” he suddenly made a flight attempt.
Waites, however, was not aware that VPD K9 “Yoschi” was also at the scene, and he was quickly subdued by the canine cop and taken into custody.
Waites was then transported to Ventura County Medical Center for treatment of his K9 contact. Once he was medically cleared, he was then transported to Ventura County Jail, where he was booked on charges of commercial burglary, resisting arrest, and parole violation.
