Ojai Valley News Blog

Oct. 9, 2012

Misty Volaski, editor@ojaivalleynews.com

Planning to hitch a ride home from the bars on the downtown shuttle this weekend? Better make other plans. “If you’re calling for the shuttle, there is no shuttle,” says Adrianus “Dutch” VanHemert on his voicemail. “You have to call Daniel at 646-TAXI.” Monday at 6:59 p.m., VanHemert turned himself in to the Ventura County Jail to serve his 81-day sentence for “evading an officer with willful disregard.” The conviction stems from an April 2010 incident when VanHemert was arrested for evading former Ventura County Sheriff’s Department Deputy Michael Harris (now detective). Harris pulled VanHemert over after he honked at the deputy, who was making a traffic stop at the time. VanHemert told the OVN after his arrest that he’d had run-ins with Harris before, and that he fled the scene and drove to the Ojai Police Station because he feared for his safety. There, he was tazed by Deputy Jacob Valenzuela and was taken into custody. Although VanHemert was sentenced to 180 days in March — which has since been reduced to 81 days — he got a stay of six months, the last day of which was Monday. Should he serve the entire sentence, he’ll be released Dec. 27. “So I’ll spend the holidays, and my birthday there. I’ll miss all the good stuff,” VanHemert said two hours before heading to the jail. “The good thing is, I had six months to prepare, so I saved money, prepaid all my bills, so I have nothing to worry about.” Without VanHemert to drive it, Ojai will not have the Kool Buzz downtown shuttle. That has some in the valley, including VanHemert, worried that the lack of the gratuities-only service could result in more people driving under the influence of alcohol. “That’s when people start drinking and driving, when they have to pay $30 to get home,” VanHemert said. “I feel sad for the people of Ojai, who are not gonna get this service, the shuttle. It’s not gonna be around for a while.” On “The FREE down town shuttle” page on Facebook, supporters expressed their frustrations at VanHemert’s incarceration, using words like “ridiculous,” “outrageous,” and “shameful.” Others offered words of inspiration and wished him well. Jayden Morrison, owner of The Wrec Room, said his patrons use the shuttle a few times every month. “I think he provided a great service for our community regarding drinking and driving in Ojai. I know a lot of people do use him … He’s a good guy. People feel comfortable with him, he treats them well.” The Village Jester owner, Nigel Chisholm, said, “The bottom line is that he provides a service people use and that keeps them safe — it’s going to be more dangerous if more people are inclined to take risks (driving drunk). That’s the reality of the situation … When people use it, it keeps the community safer.” He added that he was concerned about Ojai Day, Oct. 20. “There’s a lot of drinking going on … It’s not gonna be safe on the roads.” Ojai attorney Paul Blatz, also a city council member, took on VanHemert’s case during his sentencing, and also expressed disappointment in the loss of the downtown shuttle. “I think its a shame that Dutch has to serve any time, as he was offering a legitimate, very important public service to the community … It’s definitely a loss to Ojai and all the people who have relied on Dutch for transportation home.” Meanwhile, Ojai Police Chief Capt. Dave Kenney had little to say about the situation, as he’s only served as Ojai’s captain for the last six months. He had no comment on the VanHemert case, nor the possibility of a rise in intoxicated drivers on the road while the Kool Buzz is out of commission. He did, however, say that many more people drive under the influence of alcohol during the holiday season. “We always gear up for the holidays — Fourth of July, Labor Day, New Year’s Eve,” Kenney said, adding that during that time, across the county, more DUI checkpoints are set up. For his part, VanHemert said his take on the entire situation is “not very good, you know. I’m not happy about it. The worst thing for me is that I’m doing this to my girlfriend, to my customers. I feel sad about it … But I’m not gonna stop doing this. The weekend I get out, I’ll be out there. I’m not gonna give it up, I think it’s a good thing, the people need it.”