Ventura County Sheriff – Incident Press Release
The Camarillo Special Enforcement Detail, with the assistance of multiple other investigative units, executed an eight-location search warrant in the Cities of Camarillo and Thousand Oaks.
Beginning in November 2020, a known criminal street gang based in the city of Camarillo, was involved in several vandalisms and assaults, including an attempted murder. In two of those crimes a handgun was used. While the aforementioned crimes were being investigated by the Camarillo Special Enforcement Detail and Sheriff’s Major Crimes Unit, the Camarillo Special Enforcement Detail initiated a separate investigation to identify known members and associates of the criminal street gang. Additionally, the Camarillo Special Enforcement Detail was also attempting to link members of this criminal street gang to graffiti which had increased within the city.
On January 28, 2021, an eight-location search warrant was executed in the cities of Camarillo and Thousand Oaks. The goal behind the search warrant was to find evidence of recent gang related crimes. In excess of ninety detectives and civilian investigators from multiple Ventura County Sheriff’s stations assisted with the execution of this large-scale search warrant.
Evidence such as gang clothing, gang graffiti, graffiti instruments, replica firearms and fully functioning firearms were recovered. One of the functioning firearms included a high-powered rifle and one of the handguns had been reported to law enforcement as stolen in 2012. The graffiti instruments recovered included permanent markers and over 50 cans of spray paint.
Emilio Bejar, Miguel Bejar, Juan Bejar, Daniel Espinoza, and Rodolfo Valencia were arrested for vandalism and committing crimes for the benefit of a gang. Juan Gonzalez was arrested for unlawful transfer of a firearm and being in possession of a stolen firearm. Juan Lopez was arrested for being under the influence of a controlled substance and being in possession of drug paraphernalia. Gerardo Ayala was arrested for unsafe storage of a firearm. Everyone, with the exception of Gerardo Ayala, was booked into the Ventura County Jail.
The Camarillo Special Enforcement Detail is comprised of six plain clothes detectives who focus their efforts on crimes that negatively affect the quality of life of the law-abiding citizens of Camarillo. This includes violent crimes and those related to criminal street gangs.
Anyone with information about gang activity or dangerous crimes occurring within the city is encouraged to contact the Camarillo Special Enforcement Detail at (805) 388-5100. Callers can remain anonymous. Information can also be provided by email at [email protected]
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