Photo: Stock Image
Underage high schoolers and college kids have traditionally been given a pass whenever they’re caught by an observant clerk trying to buy a six pack at their local convenience store.
But once past the age of 18—and certainly past the age of 21—such tolerance by law enforcement comes to an abrupt end. According to Ventura County Sheriff’s Department spokesman Sgt. Sean Taylor, 33-year-old Simi Valley resident Hector Aldair Nunez-Cruz may not have appreciated that reality when he spotted the flashing red lights of a VCSD patrol vehicle in his rearview mirror.
It was nearing the midnight hour when Nunez-Cruz was driving along a Simi Valley thoroughfare and was the subject of “a routine traffic enforcement stop. Following the deputy’s request for his I.D., Nunez-Cruz proffered a driver’s license bearing false information, took the traffic citation and drove off into the night.
“A few days” later, on May 8, 2024, it was discovered that Nunez-Cruz had “presented a false government identification” on the night of his traffic stop. Further investigation indicated that he was “actually a wanted felon” with an outstanding arrest warrant for assorted crimes like robbery, residential burglary, and forgery.
Within hours, VCSD detectives “conducted an operation,” located Nunez-Cruz in the Simi Valley area, and arrested him. When contacted, he once again identified himself with the same bogus I.D. he had used earlier. He was transported to Ventura County Jail and booked on his felony warrants with the additional charges of possessing false government documents. He remains in custody on a no-bail hold.
