Ventura Police Department – Incident Press Release
On May 27th at 9:35 am the Ventura Police Command Center received received a call of a subject, later identified as Scott Richetts, who had forced his way into an occupied building at 896 East Main Street. Richetts reportedly used a brick to force open a door to the building, announcing to the occupants that he was “going to jail for a really long time.” The building occupants were able to exit and notify police. Richetts remained inside and barricaded himself inside an interior room.
Responding officers made verbal contact with Richetts, who was uncooperative, refused to exit, and made suicide-by-cop statements. Ventura Police Crisis Negotiators arrived to assist and negotiated with Richetts for nearly two hours before the situation de-escalated and he surrendered. He exited the room and was taken into custody without incident.
None of the victims, officers, or Richetts were injured during this incident.
A search of the Orange County Superior Court’s Website revealed that Richetts has a lengthy criminal history with arrests f or numerous charges, including Robbery, Burglary, Criminal Threats, Use of a Deadly Weapon, Grand Theft, Vehicle Theft, among others. Richetts is currently on Post Release Community Supervision in Orange County.
Richetts was booked at the Ventura County Jail for burglary, felony vandalism, possession of drug paraphernalia, and resisting arrest.