No homicides in Santa Paula in 2007, VC’s number lowest on record

January 16, 2008
Santa Paula News

Ventura County’s 2007 homicide was the lowest on record and Santa Paula had no incidents, although a homicide that occurred last year just inside the county line was mistakenly reported as occurring in the city.

By Peggy KellySanta Paula TimesVentura County’s 2007 homicide was the lowest on record and Santa Paula had no incidents, although a homicide that occurred last year just inside the county line was mistakenly reported as occurring in the city. Santa Paula Police Chief Steve MacKinnon said that proactive policing and targeting those more likely to commit violent crime has been effective.Overall there were 19 homicides throughout the county last year, with Oxnard booking the highest number, 10, according to the County Medical Examiner’s Office, which has been tracking homicides since 1974.Simi Valley has the second highest number of homicides, three, and Thousand Oaks ranked third with two homicides. Both cities have for years ranked among the safest in the nation based on population. Fillmore, Port Hueneme and Ventura had one homicide each. Joining Santa Paula in having no homicides for the year were Camarillo, El Rio, Frazier Park and Saticoy.A homicide did occur last year at a Santa Paula mailing address in a residential area of the unincorporated area of Ventura County that was handled by the Ventura County Sheriff’s Department after initial assistance from the Santa Paula Police Department. Edgar Flores, 27, was shot multiple times on August 24, 2007 in the area of Ferris Lane, just east of city limits.
Arrested and charged with homicide - and a special enhancement tied to committing the crime to benefit a street gang - were Manuel Rodriguez, 19, and Miguel Gonzalez, 20, both of Santa Paula, and 19-year-old Paul Carillo of Ventura.MacKinnon said that the trend locally as well as nationwide is a decrease in violent crime, although “I’ve also heard that they’re seeing little spikes here and there in the larger cities.” Long range, “Santa Paula and homicides were and are down, a trend in the city for the last decade or so.” Santa Paula did not have a homicide in 2007, and there was one in 2006.MacKinnon noted that in general, “Police officers are a little superstitious” about talking about decreases in homicide, because “then it happens.” But Santa Paula is “making progress” in drug enforcement and gang enforcement, activities that often lead to violent crime including homicide.With the 2007 homicide statistics, “We’re hopeful this means a trend, but we’re not going to let up with very aggressive tactics in the street” to control crime, MacKinnon noted.Ventura County had 59 homicides in 1974 and 1979, the highest numbers ever. The previous best year was 1987, when 20 homicides occurred. Even Los Angeles finished 2007 with 392 homicides, a 37-year low.



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