An intensive manhunt in Santa Paula for a suspect allegedly connected to a recent shooting led to the lockdown of a middle school and the evacuation of a motel on Friday. According to KTLA, authorities were searching for 34-year-old Maximo Hernandez, who is considered armed and dangerous. The suspect is believed to be involved in a shooting that occurred on September 18.
The search forced a temporary shutdown of the 400 block of Harvard Boulevard, the main artery adjacent to the Santa Paula Airport. Law enforcement officers, including the Ventura County SWAT Team and the Tactical Negotiations Unit, conducted a room-by-room search of the Harvard Motel where they believed Hernandez was staying. Evacuations were conducted as a precautionary measure, and Isbell Middle School, located across from the motel, was placed on lockdown during the operation, which lasted from 9 a.m. to approximately 12:40 p.m., as reported by Nixle.
Nearby Isbell Middle School resumed normal operations around 1:00 p.m. after the lockdown was lifted. Officials did not find Hernandez during the search. The Ventura County Sheriff’s Office has released a description of the suspect, who is a Hispanic male, approximately 5 feet 4 inches tall, weighing about 150 pounds, with distinctive tattoos including one on his neck that says “BC,” one on the right side of his head that says “Jonathan,” and another on his left forearm that reads “Hecho en Mexico” with an eagle image.
Investigators are urging anyone with information about the whereabouts of Maximo Hernandez to contact the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office at 805-654-9511, call 911, or reach out to Ventura County Crime Stoppers at 800-222-TIPS (8477), where tips can be provided anonymously. Additional contact information for Detective Dustin Heersche and Detective John Grunhold has been provided for email tips. Ventura County Crime Stoppers is also offering a reward of up to $1,000 for information leading to an arrest and criminal complaint against the person(s) responsible for the crime.
