Ventura PD K9 assists in arrest of suspect

Ventura Police Department – Incident Press Release

On February 25th at 4PM the Ventura Police Department Command Center received a 911 call of a subject armed and brandishing a handgun near the intersection of Thompson Blvd. and Garden St. Officers arrived and contacted the victim, who reported last seeing the subject climbing a fence and go underneath the Highway 101 overpass at Garden St. The subject, Jeffrey Wheelock, is known by officers to frequent the area and located him hiding in a crawl space under the overpass.

Officers gave Wheelock several commands to come out, but he refused and would not show them his hands. With reports that Wheelock was possibly armed with a handgun, a Ventura Police K-9, Miles, was deployed. Wheelock began hitting the K-9 in the head, and was able to further wedge himself into the crawl space. Officers trained in crisis negotiations responded and negotiated with Wheelock for approximately 30 minutes, but were unsuccessful. Officers also deployed water using a fire hose in an attempt to flush Wheelock out, but he still did not come out. The K-9 was deployed a second time, at which time several officers approached the crawl space and were able to physically take Wheelock into custody.

During a search of his property, two replica firearms were located.

Wheelock was transported to a local hospital for treatment of his injuries as a result of the dog bite, and later booked for brandishing of a replica firearm, battery on a police dog, resisting arrest and trespassing.

No officers were injured as a result of this incident. The K-9 did not sustain any injuries as a result of the altercation with Wheelock.

A review of the Ventura County Superior Court website shows Wheelock has prior convictions for felony resisting arrest, burglary, battery, petty theft, trespassing, and possession of drug paraphernalia.

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