Ojai's streets were rocked by the recent bust of a local cocaine dealer, now identified as 28-year-old Deion Dawson of Ojai. Ventura County Sheriff's Office took Dawson into custody after a month-long narcotics investigation led to his arrest for drug trafficking and possession of an unregistered assault rifle, among other charges. The operation, executed by the Ventura County Sheriff's Narcotics Street Team with the Ojai Police Department's assistance, reached its climax on April 5.
According to the Ventura County Sheriff's Office from the Sheriff's Office, detectives developed probable cause to believe Dawson was dealing cocaine from his East Oak Street residence. The culmination of their efforts was a warranted search that revealed more than four ounces of cocaine, two ounces of psilocybin mushrooms, a half-pound of marijuana, and a stash of U.S. currency, suspected to be drug sales proceeds. In the process of his arrest, Dawson landed himself another charge for battering a detective, causing injury.
The injured narcotics detective received treatment at the scene and did not require further medical attention. Following these events, Dawson was detained at the Pre-Trial Detention Facility with bail set at $50,000, as per the Ventura County Sheriff's Office. His court date is looming on April 24. Amid the ongoing opioid crisis in the country, officials warn that cocaine, often overshadowed, remains a serious threat and a contributor to substance abuse and related fatalities nationwide.
The Ventura County Sheriff’s Office has prepared the community for this type of crime, reminding citizens about the Ventura County Crime Stoppers reward. They offer up to a $1,000 reward for information leading to an arrest and criminal complaint against individuals responsible for drug-related crimes, with anonymity assured for tipsters.
