Photo: Ammunition discovered during search | Courtesy VCSD Sheriff’s Department
February 21, 2023 – Ventura County, Ca.
It doesn’t seem likely that the Ventura County Sheriff’s Department and its seven-member Directed Enforcement Unit (DEU), actively investigating any and all illegal activities within its jurisdiction, will run out of things to do in the near future. Among their tasks is the control of firearms and ammunition which may be in the possession of “prohibited” individuals—most often those who have been convicted of a felony within the State of California.
A modicum of success was achieved by the DEU on February 20th with the arrest of 56-year-old Thousand Oaks resident Richard English. According to VCSD spokesman Sergeant Jonathan James, English fell under the watchful eye of DEU detectives when they received information indicating the possibility that he was possibly in possession of firearms or ammunition; as “a convicted felon with a criminal history that prohibits him from owning or possessing any firearms and ammunition,” English quickly became a target of further interest.
On the morning of February 20th, DEU detectives—working with VCSD East County Patrol deputies—took advantage of English’s outstanding misdemeanor warrant and served it on him and his “live-in motorhome.” That warrant provided the opportunity for a search of the motorhome, whereupon detectives discovered “50 rounds of live ammunition” on the premises.
English was then taken into custody and transported to Ventura County Jail where he was booked on a charge of being a felon in possession of ammunition, with his bail set at $20,000.
by Robert L. McCullough
