Roundup: Son charged in Moorpark stabbing death, more local crime news
Here's a roundup of recent arrests and announcements from Ventura County agencies:
Son charged in stabbing death
VENTURA — The Ventura County District Attorney's Office charged a 23-year-old man with murder Friday after he allegedly stabbed his father in Moorpark Wednesday night.
Jason Tyler Fernandes pleaded not guilty during an arraignment Friday afternoon in Ventura County Superior Court. In addition the murder count, prosecutors filed a special enhancement for use of a deadly weapon, which Fernandes denied during the hearing. He was represented by the Ventura County Public Defender's Office, court records show.
The stabbing was reported around 5:50 p.m. Wednesday in the 4700 block of Park Lane, where Fernandes' father lived in a unit at the Vintage Crest Senior Apartments complex, according to Ventura County Sheriff's Office officials. The father, Michael Fernandes, was 73, officials said, and had reportedly been stabbed in the torso with a pair of scissors. The son, a Ventura resident, was arrested that night in a nearby arroyo.
Fernandes was returned to the county jail with bail set at $1 million. The next court date was set for March 22.
Authorities seek public's help finding person of interest
OJAI — Authorities in Ojai hope the public can help them identify or locate a man after a girl, 12, reported being approached by strangers last week.
At around 8:15 p.m. on March 4, the girl had been near Bristol and Foothill roads when she was reportedly approached by two males in a white sedan, according to the Ventura County Sheriff's Office, which is contracted to provide police services in Ojai.
The passenger allegedly tried to grab the girl by her backpack and tried to pull her toward the car. The girl reportedly fought back and fled the area. She contacted her mother and a family friend and was taken to the Ojai Police Department to report the incident.
Detectives worked with the girl to create a composite sketch of the passenger. He was described as in his mid-to-late 20s with a medium build, dark-colored spiky hair, sideburns, a mole on the right side of his face and a scar on the left side of his neck. He was said to wear a long-sleeve white shirt described as dirty and jeans with red and blue paint on them.
No details were provided about the male driver. The sedan was said to have scratches on the front bumper near the passenger-side headlight and a sticker in the lower right-hand corner of the back window that possibly depicted an American flag.
Sheriff's officials on Friday declined to say whether they had video, witnesses or other evidence, citing their ongoing investigation.
Anyone with information is asked to call Detective Meagan Yates at (805) 384-4731.
20,000+ pills, other drugs seized
SIMI VALLEY — Simi Valley authorities recently seized thousands of apparent fentanyl pills and other drugs while apprehending a wanted parolee.
Last week, detectives with the Simi Valley Police Department's special investigations unit learned that a 49-year-old Simi Valley man wanted for a felony parole warrant was in the city. They initiated surveillance, later conducting a traffic stop as the man was driving in Oxnard. Oxnard police officers assisted.
A vehicle search uncovered more than 20,000 pills believed to be fentanyl, a pound of fentanyl in powder form, a pound of methamphetamine and a significant amount of cash, Simi Valley officials said. The man was arrested for the parole warrant and on suspicion of narcotics offenses.
Outstanding burglary suspects found in Los Angeles
VENTURA COUNTY — Two suspects who evaded capture last week — after a burglary in Camarillo prompted a high-speed pursuit into Los Angeles — were arrested Wednesday in LA, authorities said.
Ventura County Sheriff's detectives had previously arrested two men on the night of the March 2 incident. But the two outstanding suspects had initially evaded an extensive search assisted by the Los Angeles Police Department.
All four suspects are Chilean nationals and believed to be members of a so-called South American theft group, sheriff's officials said.
The residential burglary was reported in the 800 block of Corte La Cienega in the Spanish Hills area of Camarillo while residents were home. Sheriff's deputies who tried to pull over a vehicle leaving the area ended up in a pursuit that led into the Van Nuys neighborhood of Los Angeles, with an LAPD helicopter tracking the vehicle's progress.
After a minor crash on Victory Boulevard, authorities arrested two men, ages 33 and 18, while the other two suspects successfully fled the scene.
A follow-up investigation found the outstanding suspects, a 25-year-old man and a 14-year-old male, were staying at a hotel on North Cahuenga Boulevard in Los Angeles.
On Wednesday, deputies with the special enforcement unit arrested the two as they left their hotel room on suspicion of conspiracy to commit a burglary and possessing fake government documents. The 25-year-old was also arrested on suspicion of resisting and evading arrest.
A warrant search of the hotel room reportedly turned up evidence related to the alleged crimes, a large amount of cash and jewelry believed to be stolen from unknown victims.
Items may be updated if new information becomes available.
Jeremy Childs is a breaking news and public safety reporter covering the night shift for the Ventura County Star. He can be reached by calling 805-437-0208 or emailing jeremy.childs@vcstar.com. You can also find him on Twitter @Jeremy_Childs.
This article originally appeared on Ventura County Star: Son held in dad's fatal stabbing; massive fentanyl bust in Simi Valley
