Ojai Valley News Blog

VENTURA COUNTY SHERIFF’S DEPARTMENT MEDIA RELEASE

Nature of Incident: Arrest of Attempt Murder Suspect
Crime Location: 200 Block of Waite Street, Ojai
Arrest Date & Time: 11-11-2009 @ 1700 Hours
Unit Responsible: Ventura County Sheriff’s Gang Unit
Suspect Charge(s) City of Residence Age
Attempted Murder & Street terrorism
Huerta, Rutilio, 20, Ojai

Narrative:
On Wednesday, the Sheriff’s Gang Unit arrested Rutilio Huerta for a gang related Attempted Murder that occurred in the City of Ojai on New Years Eve.  Huerta was arrested at his residence without incident.

On the morning of January 1, 2009, at about 0145 hours, 28 year old Joshua Powers was walking home from a party in the 200 Block of Waite Street.  Powers was confronted by individuals who were attending a nearby party.  Powers was attacked and stabbed 17 times.  The suspects fled, leaving Powers lying unconscious in the street.  A short time later, an anonymous person called emergency personnel reporting that Powers was lying in the street.  Powers was transported to Ojai Hospital where he nearly succumbed to his injuries.  Powers was in the hospital for several days before being released.

Investigators from the Sheriff’s Gang Unit conducted a 5-month investigation identifying Ojai gang member Fidel Duran as the person who stabbed Powers.  Duran was arrested in June for Attempted Murder and Street Terrorism and booked into the Ventura County Pre-Trial Detention Facility, Ventura.  Sheriff’s Gang investigators also identified Rutilio Huerta as being one of the aggressors and believe that he also battered the victim during the attack.   Huerta was booked into the Ventura County Pre-Trial Detention Facility on Wednesday for Attempted Murder and Street Terrorism and remains in custody on $1,000,000.00 bail.  Fidel Duran has been in custody since his arrest in June and is being held on $645,000.00 bail awaiting trial.

Press release issued by Sgt. Bill Schierman