Photo: Stock Image
Written By: Robert L. McCullough
February 9, 2023 – Ventura County, Ca. – Pet ownership—which spread in record-breaking numbers across all demographics during the long night of Covid Pandemic lockdowns as people sought some level of furry-friend comfort and affection—appears to have risks beyond the occasional cat scratch or dog hair on a favorite cashmere sweater.
Evidence of that came on the morning of February 7th on a quiet residential street in the City of Fillmore when 52-year-old Santa Cruz area transient William Krol spotted a woman walking her dog and reacted as no reasonable gentleman would. According to Ventura County Sheriff’s Department spokesman Detective Frank Valdez—attached to the Fillmore Detective Bureau—Krol “aggressively approached the victim and threatened to killer her” and inflict serious injury to her dog.
Fortunately for the dog-walker, a witness passerby interceded and provided a safe route of escape for her. Uninjured but clearly shaken, the victim promptly called 911 Emergency to report the incident. Minutes later, a Fillmore Police Department patrol unit rolled up to the scene, and were provided with a detailed description of Krol.
With that description in hand, Fillmore patrol units were then on the lookout for Krol. He was observed at a local shopping center the following day and uniformed police officers made contact with him. A conversation ensued and Krol “was positively identified as the suspect” who had made violent threats to a female victim the day prior. He was then taken into custody and transported to Ventura County Jail, where he was booked on a charge of Criminal Threats, with an unspecified bail amount set.
