Ojai City Watch 10/25/09 at Ojai Valley News Blog

Ojai City Watch 10/25/09

FROM: Sgt. Joe Evans

Greeting Watchers.
This week we have an increase in auto burglaries and thefts from vehicles in the Fulton Street area of the city of Ojai. There are a number of burglaries and thefts that have occurred in a very small area of the city. Detectives have arrested a local gang member in one of the burglaries. The other crimes can not be linked to this same suspect. The investigation is ongoing and your Detectives are looking at a several different suspects in these cases.

In the same area, a local man left his keys over night in his parked car. Well guess what, the car was stolen. Deputies took a report and within 18 hours the vehicle was recovered in Oxnard and two of our local gang members were arrested. This is another example of how important it is for you to lock you car and take the keys with you every time you leave the car.

We have had two widow smash burglaries in the Arcade Plaza. If you find yourself in that area late at night and see suspicious people loitering in the area, please call the police. We have stepped up our patrols in the area but could use your help.

This week our residential burglaries have dropped back down and our gang related vandalism are also down.

About three weeks ago a fellow Watcher sent me an e-mail describing what he thought was drug dealing in his neighborhood. This Watcher was very observant and was concerned about his neighborhood becoming a home for drug dealers. I passed his information onto our Narcotics unit and asked them to help. Well three weeks later the investigation that started with a concerned citizen, ended in the arrest of a local man for cultivation and sales of Marijuana. Detectives found this man had Marijuana growing in two different homes in the valley. Detectives found more that 100 plants and evidence showing the man was selling to numerous people in the valley.This is another example of you guys getting involved and helping law enforcement work within your neighborhoods.

My hat is off to all of you who step up and give information that keeps our neighborhoods safe from drug dealers and thieves. Remember our local burglars and gang members are also involved in the Marijuana trade and we should make it as difficult as we can for them to thrive.

Well all good things come to an end and so does my time here at the Ojai Police Station. Beginning November 1, 2009 I will be re-assigned to the Sheriff’s Homicide Unit in Ventura. This is a transfer that I requested and was very fortunate to get. Many of you know that for most of my career I have worked investigations of one type or another.

I was humbled and honored to have worked Homicide three years ago and I have decided to return to that job for the remainder of my career. In my line of work, working Homicide is the ultimate goal and the chance to work it twice in one career is a dream. To bring justice to a victims family is the most rewarding thing I have ever experienced. It truly humbles you.

You have all been a very big part of my life these past two years and for that I will always be grateful. I will continue to run City Watch until my replacement gets settled in here at the station. In the coming weeks I will send out an alert outlining some of the milestones of this program that you have all made so successful. I will also introduce my replacement and maybe we can have some fun with him.

Keep up the good work and please stay safe.

Your friend and neighbor, Joe

As always I can be reached at ojaivalley.citywatch@ventura.org

Written by admin

October 25th, 2009 at 8:09 am

Posted in news,ojai,ojai valley

Tagged with ojai

40 Responses to 'Ojai City Watch 10/25/09'

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Dear Joe, I wish you much success on your new position on the Sherriff’s Homicide Unit in Ventura! Men like you are true heros! Thank you for your service!! Angela

Angela Savage

25 Oct 09 at 10:53 am
Put a curfew on people coming from meiners oaks and oak spew into Ojai at night and guess what? There would be no crime in Ojai! How hard is it to do what’s right?

Ojai Lawyer

25 Oct 09 at 6:48 pm
Thank you Joe for your sharing with us the events of the Ojai Valley and how to improve the lives of all. I have constantly shared your web address with others so they may be informed and protected also. Best wishes in your future endeavors.

As for Ojai Lawyer, go back to L.A., with that attitude, you can’t really be from anywhere here in the Ojai Valley.

Brian

25 Oct 09 at 10:28 pm
Ojai Lawyer, you’re an idiot. If you check the crime areas they’re mostly around fulton where lots of wonderful gangbangers are living now. (In Ojai) As a resident of Oak Spew as you put it. I’m estatic that I live far away from them and you!

Folks, we have another sterling lawyer here who should keep his big mouth shut!

Anon

26 Oct 09 at 8:10 am
Anon and Ojai Lawyer, those were both dumb comments. I know lots of good people on Fulton that would take issue with your statement and lots of people in Oak View and Meiners Oaks that disagree with that blanket judgement as well. Acting like little kids fighting , wow that really solves the gang issue.

BornNaked

26 Oct 09 at 8:35 am
“We have had two widow smash burglaries in the Arcade Plaza.”

Just a sign of the times when widows have to resort to crime in order to get by.

Joe, thanks for all your service to the valley and good luck on your assignemnt.

Rick Raine

26 Oct 09 at 12:19 pm
Anon and Ojai Lawyer,

I just wanted to inform you that I live on Fulton. I had my vehicle locked and in my driveway. IT was still broken into ( No smashed windows and no Fingerprints ) The crook was very nice and locked my vehicle after he did his work. So please rethink your statments before you post them? Good Luck Joe and thanks you for protecting Ojai all these years!

Pissed Civilian

26 Oct 09 at 12:46 pm
Why not just put Fulton on lockdown? Put patrol cars on the street 24 hours a day. Search homes for drugs etc. If the Police know where the problem people are, why not arrest them?

Anonymous

26 Oct 09 at 1:37 pm
I live in the area of Fulton and Drown. Almost every night between 10pm and midnight there are kids on skateboards and gangmembers out and about. Screaming, catcalling, whistling to each other. One night I saw kids take down signs at Pat’s and use them to make ramps to jump the planter in front of Pat’s for an hour. I called it in and guess what the cops NEVER showed. What good does it do to call it in if no one shows?

OjaiMom

27 Oct 09 at 9:03 am
Joe,

Appreciate your hard work. Best of luck in your new assignment.

Mike

27 Oct 09 at 1:00 pm
Thank you so much Joe. You are the best!

Parent

27 Oct 09 at 8:33 pm
Pissed Civilian, I don’t need to rethink my comments, you need to read more carefully. I said the perpetraitors lived around the Fulton area. And I really do feel for you, I have the window smashed out of my own vehicle not too long ago and the little b*st*rds took my only coat, a pair of dress shoes and my owners’ manual for my truck. They’re darn lucky I didn’t find them that night…

Anon

27 Oct 09 at 9:24 pm
ya know I live in “MO”town and ride my bike, go for a walk and generally be outside at night. I’ve never been afraid or harrassed.

Seems like the old saying is true “We have nothing to fear but fear itself”

“what you think upon grows” “what are you thinking?”

why oh why

28 Oct 09 at 3:39 pm
Anon,

I apologize I did not read your statment close enough..sorry

Pissed Civilian

29 Oct 09 at 10:13 am
Ojai mom said that skate boarders took signs down at pats liquor and used them as ramps in the middle of the night. I see kids with skateboards being used inconsiderately all the time. What it eventually does is erode the reputation of skate boarders in general. Sure they need a skate park but as far as priorities go its becoming less and less important. What kind of culture is skateboarding if being one means being inconsiderate and being out tht late at night? My concern is having that much energy in the middle of the night is a sign of taking drugs. This is not good at all. I certainly wouldn’t want this element in my neighborhood. If they build a skatepark , better put it in a high profile, higly lighted and patrolled location. Because those night owls are going to be there.

what?

29 Oct 09 at 11:43 am
Having that much energy late at night is a sign of being a teenager.

annonymous

29 Oct 09 at 5:05 pm
10-29 5:05 pm yep

??. ?. ????

29 Oct 09 at 5:29 pm
The article claimed one burglar was a local gang member. Maybe Ojai Lawyer will defend him in court for a big wad of cash since he lives in Ojai.

cuyama

29 Oct 09 at 9:38 pm
Sure doesn’t sound like the Ojai I grew up in during the 50′s and 60′s (on Fulton)- former prune picker now an Arkie

native

30 Oct 09 at 1:47 pm
Joe, could you please put patrols along the bike path? Junkies are openly dealing drugs near the club tennis courts. They carry back packs in which they carry their drugs. It’s really unpleasant to be forced to see this after a good tennis game and a swim. Thanks!

Anonymous

1 Nov 09 at 11:58 am
They’re probably dealing to club members.

KillaCrack

1 Nov 09 at 6:28 pm
Anonymous 1 Nov 09 at 11:58 am

From you’re post, are you sure you did not make a purchase???
Junkies don’t deal drugs they do them, that’s why they are called junkies and dealers deal, that’s why we call them dealers…
If its near the club’s tennis courts than the club should do something.
Aim the CCTV cameras at the particular area and give the evidence to the police.
You’re way puts all backpack wearers under scrutiny and adds 1,000 suspects to a 10 person crime.
A lot of things are really unpleasant in life to see you’re old, fat, harry, over-sized chassis for instance.
Should we make a law to keep grumpy unhappy people at home???
Try something no one ever does any more mind you’re own business. Thank you

??. ?. ????

1 Nov 09 at 8:01 pm
A lot of things happen on the bike path and in Libbey
Park. Gang initiation, smoking dope and drinking booze,
drug dealing. The cops do nothing. Their in love with
each other and the rich who give them handouts.

lpb

2 Nov 09 at 10:05 am
Would all the drug users please go back to their trailers in Oak View and Meiners Oaks and please stop using drugs near the club on the bike path? Anonymous is right. After time on the court it’s really disgusting to have to see these criminal bottom feeders before heading to brunch. Sgt Joe, please do something about this. We pay the taxes, not the junkies and dealers. Thanks.

New rule

2 Nov 09 at 11:28 am
How do you people know they are dealing? Two people standing close to each other is dealing? Or do you actually see drugs going from one person to another and the other person handing them money? I must say if they are showing their bags of crack cocaine as they deal they must be idiots!

Question

2 Nov 09 at 1:07 pm
Put CCTV’s along Fulton and Drown and bust the gang members and meth dens.

Anonymous

2 Nov 09 at 1:48 pm
It’s time for some of these drug dealing scum bags to face citizens arrest. Concerned citizens should start patrols. Any Vets up for the challenge?

Take back Libbey Park

2 Nov 09 at 1:50 pm
New rule,
I want to make brunch and snobby people illegal will you sign the petition????

annonymous 11:58 am is wrong very wrong,
and so are you….

??. ?. ????

2 Nov 09 at 6:18 pm
?,

You are well-versed in the nuance’s of the drug culture. It comes across in your rants. You need to focus on what we talked about, it would be better for you.

Ret. Lieut. John Doe
?’s Life Coach

John Doe

2 Nov 09 at 8:13 pm
?,
“You are well-versed in the nuance’s of the drug culture.”

That’s Mr. ??.?.???? to you john..
A new law against snobby rude people hardly amounts to a “drug rant”…..

“It comes across in your rants.”

You just can’t help but to open you’re mouth if only to switch feet…

“You need to focus on what we talked about,
it would be better for you.”

No its okay really you’re mother said she is getting to old for the “Arab goggles” nowadays…

“Ret. Lieut. John Doe
?’s Life Coach
Ret. rice separator
collector of hair dolls”
john loves his “makebelieve time” don’t you john???

??. ?. ????

2 Nov 09 at 11:44 pm
There is so much BS on this thread it is unbelievable

Jane Doe

3 Nov 09 at 7:38 am
thanks, joe, for keeping us aware, alert and informed!

back to the subject

3 Nov 09 at 9:04 am
The amount of presumption here is astounding; kids in the street at night= gangbangers, people gathering on the bike path or in Libbey Park= drug dealers and junkies, residents of M.O. or Oak View = somehow “less” than Ojaians. It always disappoints me when I read or hear the underlying prejudices in this great little valley. Crimes are committed by individuals, not classes of people nor neighborhoods. New Rule, perhaps you should re-read your own comment, sounds like you simply don’t wish to see people you deem as “unpleasant” between your tennis club workout and your brunch. It’s still a mostly free country, and folks have a right to be wherever they choose to be, don’t they?
If people are blatantly breaking the law, call the police. That’s what they do for a living.

Matilijabob

5 Nov 09 at 7:41 pm
Matilijabob,

You are breaking the law by writing such an idiotic comment. You are a moron. Go back to the canyon.

Ret. Lieut. John Doe
Blog Administrator

John Doe

5 Nov 09 at 11:51 pm
Matilijabob 7:41pm
That is all I am saying,
not pro-drug, not pro-crime but pro-freedom!!!!!

Fred Freeman

6 Nov 09 at 7:38 am
john doe,
go back to ventura….

Ret. Blah blah
yak yak yak

??.???.????

7 Nov 09 at 12:31 am
It’s better to get up early on Sunday and head to tennis and brunch prior to the local druggies, gang kids and losers begin regaining consciousness. At 7am on a crisp clear Sunday morning, Ojai looks just how it looked 20 years ago. By 2pm, not so much.

Bruncher

7 Nov 09 at 8:02 pm
what does oak view and m.o have to do with joe ??? nothing is right all u old ojai residents are stuck up oak view is just fine think about it which city has more crime, gangs, and homless people?? not oak view i’ll tell u that we might not have as many stores or tourists and rich people but it is a great comunity with vaules and centers for our kids to hang out… so they don’t get involed with gangs and drugs so stop ur ranting ojai

oak view born and raised

20 Nov 09 at 11:50 pm
Who cares where you live in Ojai, Fulton or any other street in this town, curfew should be mandatory. If the parents know there under age kids are out all night don’t you think it’s time for them to start taking notice!! Get involved with your children it’s not to late. Foundation is the key of inspiration to bigger and better things in life for them.

45 yrs in Ojai

28 Dec 09 at 7:56 am
45 yrs,
I agree 100%, we don’t need to waste more money putting in new cameras and heavily armed guards, just enforce the laws currently on the books.

PS: Claiming that one territory is better than another when less than five miles separates them is a joke.

The homeless, gangs and crime argument (that Ojai has more than Oak View) is more than stupid, the main road runs through Oak View, so any crime, drugs or gangs have to come directly through Oak View to get to Ojai, aside from Santa Paula.
That said I have never had any problems in oak view (IE being staring at/dogged weapons pulled on me) can’t say the same for Ojai.
A lot of people have honestly mistaken me for a person of Mexican lineage, sometimes middle eastern descent, however I am and always was Cherokee/Blackfoot.
I have never had so much as a dirty look from anyone in Oak View, but in Ojai I get the stereotypical “what set you claimin”.
If those kids would put down the dope and pick up a map they could at least insult me properly.
Strength is in the numbers, division is weakness.

Redman

28 Dec 09 at 1:57 pm