Four juveniles have been arrested in connection with a gang-related assault at a public park in Thousand Oaks, local authorities have reported. The assault, which left one person with non-life-threatening injuries after being kicked while on the ground, took place on September 9th and prompted a comprehensive investigation by law enforcement.
According to the news release by the Ventura County Sheriff's Office, the responding units included the Thousand Oaks Police Department Community Resource Unit, East County Special Enforcement Unit, Thousand Oaks Directed Enforcement Unit, and the Simi Valley Police Department Special Enforcement Team. The investigation, which began on the morning of September 10th, quickly led to the positive identification of all four suspects, who are documented members of a local criminal street gang.
Investigators served multiple residential search warrants in the cities of Thousand Oaks and Simi Valley on September 24th, resulting in the arrest of three juveniles. The fourth suspect was apprehended on October 3rd. The suspects, whose ages range from 15 to 17, now face charges including Assault with Force Likely to Produce Great Bodily Injury, Conspiracy to Commit a Crime, and Street Terrorism.
Detailing the arrests in a news release, Senior Deputy Robert Curiel stated that the East County Special Enforcement Unit focuses its efforts on "making Thousand Oaks a safe community by actively investigating crime and pursuing suspects." Furthermore, the police department encourages anyone with information on criminal or gang activity to come forward, offering assurances that callers may remain anonymous.
For those looking to stay informed on local law enforcement and public safety notifications, the Thousand Oaks Police Department suggests following their social media accounts and subscribing to Nixle alerts by texting a zip code to 888777. Ventura County Crime Stoppers is also offering a reward of up to $1,000 for information leading to the arrest and criminal complaint against the individuals responsible for the crime.
