The summer season in the City of Ojai—usually a sleepy bedroom community known for its tourism and cultural affairs—often brings with it temperatures that defy its proximity to Ventura County’s beaches. It may have been the heat that caused 23-year-old Ojai resident Isaiah Avalos to go off the rails and begin a series of unprovoked attacks on passers-by which ended with his August 5th arrest.
Things heated up for Avaolos on the night of July 28th when, according to Ventura County Sheriff’s Department spokesman Det. Joseph Sharif, deputies were called out to a city street “regarding a fight.” Upon arrival, they interviewed an adult male victim who reported being pepper sprayed in an unprovoked attack by a man later identified as Avalos. Avalos had by then fled the scene on foot and could not be located.
A week later, on August 4, 2024, at around 2:00 PM, two female juveniles riding electric bikes on the city’s bike path were pepper-sprayed, with both girls being struck in the arm. Despite the sudden assault, the two continued to ride away while Avalos remained on the path. Both victims described the attack as entirely unprovoked the following day when they returned to school.
The following day, on the evening of August 5th, a juvenile male and female were riding a bicycle near a local area high school when Avalos pushed them off the bike, causing them to fall to the ground. Both sustained minor injuries, and the male’s bicycle was damaged. The male victim recognized Avalos as a local transient known to frequent the Ojai area.
Shortly thereafter, deputies “located Avalos and arrested him for several charges,” including willful cruelty to a child likely to produce harm, illegal use of pepper spray, vandalism , and battery. Avalos was transported to the Ventura County Jail with his bail set at $50,000.
