30-year-old Ventura resident Bryan Ismael Torres was a wanted man with felony warrants circulating through the jurisdiction on the evening of August 13, 2024. It was just after 8:30 PM, when deputies attached to the Ventura County Sheriff’s Department Ojai Police Department Station spotted Torres at a local gas station.
Aware that Torres had an outstanding felony warrant for his arrest, deputies attempted to take him into custody. Torres, however, was having none of it, aggressively resisted, quickly hopped into his vehicle, and sped off. According to VCSD spokesperson Sgt. Monica Smith, while making his escape, Torres dragged one of the deputies through the gas station parking lot for a short distance.”
Ventura Police Department officers responded to the scene and assumed control of the initial investigation while “ensuring that the area was secure.” The injured deputy was then transported to a local hospital where he received treatment for non-life-threatening injuries.
An investigation and manhunt for Torres quickly ensued, involving units attached to Ventura Police Department; Ojai Police Department; Ojai Detective Bureau; West County Special Enforcement Unit; Camarillo Special Enforcement Unit; East County Special Enforcement Unit; Ventura County Sheriff’s Office Major Crimes Unit; Organized Retail Theft Unit; Narcotics Unit; and the VCSD Special Crimes Unit.
Less than 24 hours later, on the afternoon of August 14, 2024, VCSD detectives located Torres in the city of Oxnard, whereupon he was taken into custody and transported to Ventura County Jail, where he was charged with assault with a deadly weapon, resisting an executive officer, and the outstanding felony warrant related to his probationary status. He remains in jail with his bail set at $10,000.
