A midafternoon call from a concerned resident in Fillmore this week set off a chain of events that ended with three young men, including two adults and a juvenile, in custody on suspicion of gang involvement, vandalism and firearms offenses, according to the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office.
Around 1:50 p.m. on August 12, deputies were alerted to graffiti vandalism unfolding along Goodenough Road, in an unincorporated area north of Fillmore known as Lookout Point. The caller provided a description of the suspects’ vehicle, which deputies later found parked near B Street and Fifth Street.
Inside were three alleged members of a tagging crew: Axel Martinez, 18, of Piru; Pedro Lara Jr., 18, of unincorporated Fillmore; and a 17-year-old boy from Fillmore. Deputies said a search uncovered spray paint cans, evidence linking the group to the vandalism, and a loaded semi-automatic handgun concealed in the waistband of the juvenile.
The arrests highlight the intersection of vandalism and violent crime that authorities in Ventura County say often comes with gang activity.
“Graffiti vandalism is an eyesore that directly affects the quality of life in our communities,” the Sheriff’s Office said in a statement, adding that such crimes can escalate into more serious offenses if left unchecked.
Martinez and Lara were booked at the Pre-Trial Detention Facility. The juvenile was taken to the Juvenile Justice Center. Martinez and Lara were arrested on suspicion of participation in a criminal street gang, conspiracy to commit a crime as a gang member, felony vandalism causing more than $400 in damage, and contributing to the delinquency of a minor.
The juvenile faces those same charges, along with firearm violations, including possession of a gun in a school zone, carrying a concealed firearm, and carrying a loaded firearm.
On August 14, detectives with the West County Special Enforcement Unit and the Fillmore Detective Unit served search warrants at the suspects’ residences in Fillmore, Piru and the Rancho Sespe apartments. Additional evidence was seized, further linking the trio to the graffiti, officials said.
The Sheriff’s Office credited the arrests to a tip from the public and encouraged residents to continue reporting suspicious activity.
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