Domestic Violence victim reunited with family

Ventura County Sheriff – Incident Press Release

Sheriff’s deputies and the Ventura County Family Justice Center District Attorney Victim Advocates work together to reunite domestic violence victim with family in Georgia.

On January 26th, 2021, a 19-year-old female was battered by her boyfriend in the unincorporated area of Ventura County north of the city of Ventura. Responding deputies and Major Crimes detectives investigated the incident and arrested the victim’s boyfriend for domestic violence.

The suspect was booked at the main jail in Ventura.

During the investigation, detectives learned that the 19-year-old victim was from the state of Georgia. She came to California with her boyfriend in search of work. To date they had not found any work and were living in their vehicle. The victim told deputies at the scene she was trying to leave the troubled relationship, but had no money, no phone and no way to get back to Georgia and be reunited with her family.

The Ojai station deputies who responded to the scene contacted the deputy that runs Project Hope at the Camarillo Police Department. Project Hope is a program that addresses homelessness in the community and helps connect that population to local services. He was able to connect the Ojai deputies with the Ventura County Family Justice Center District Attorney Victim Advocates.

The Ventura County Family Justice Center District Attorney Victim Advocates, and Ojai deputies worked together to assist the victim. They were able to get her in contact with her mother in  Georgia. In addition, they were able to get the female a hotel room for one night, a cell phone and a bus ticket back to Georgia.

On January 27th, 2021, deputies drove the victim to the bus depot in the city of Oxnard where she boarded the bus for Georgia. On January 29, 2021 she arrived in Georgia and was reunited with her family. She recently called the deputies to thank them, and the Ventura County Family Justice Center District Attorney Victim Advocates, for being so compassionate and helpful.

If you or anyone you know is the victim of a violent crime, please contact the Ventura County Family Justice Center. They are a great resource for victims and can help connect you to resources and services to assist you in your situation. They are located at 3170 Loma Vista Road in the city of Ventura, open Monday through Friday from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm. You can also call them at 805-652-7655, text 805-947-7981 or email at [email protected].