Ojai | Pursuit leads to arrest and seizure of loaded handgun

Ventura County Sheriff – Incident Press Release

On 12/19/2020, at approximately 9:16 PM, A deputy working patrol in Ojai Valley attempted to make a traffic enforcement stop on a vehicle driving without lights. The vehicle immediately fled from the deputy traveling at a high rate of speed through the City of Ojai and onto Highway As the vehicle neared Hermosa Rd, the driver lost control and collided with a guardrail. The vehicle was disabled, and two occupants fled on foot.

Ojai Deputies set up a perimeter and called for additional resources to search for the two subjects. With the assistance of a K-9 and UAV, the vehicle’s passenger was located and arrested without incident. He was identified as Oxnard resident Joseph Viramontes. After an extensive search, deputies were unable to locate the driver. During the subsequent investigation, deputies searched the suspect’s vehicle and discovered a loaded handgun inside.

Viramontes, a convicted felon, was arrested for resisting arrest, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. He was booked at the Ventura Main Jail in Ventura and has a pending court date of 12/22/2020 @1:30 PM. His bail is set at $60,000. Additionally, Viramontes was also booked for an unrelated no-bail felony warrant for weapons charges.