Ventura County

A 16-year-old girl was hospitalized after being struck by a driver in Thousand Oaks, Ventura County, on July 5. The incident occurred around 11 p.m. on Potrero Road near Wendy Drive, with the driver stopping to drop off the girl as a passenger.

A woman has pled guilty to second-degree murder for selling a fentanyl-xylazine mixture that caused a man's death in Simi Valley, marking Ventura County's first fentanyl murder conviction. The district attorney announced the case, involving Charity Faith Wiley, a Reseda resident who sold the drug to the victim.

A grieving family in Southern California is seeking answers after their 30-year-old son was killed by a hit-and-run driver in Ventura County.

A single-engine airplane crash-landed in a Ventura County riverbed east of the Santa Paula airport on Saturday around 1 p.m. The pilot was the only person aboard, and firefighters accessed the scene from ground and air to assist.

A new California law, SB 707, effective July 1, requires cities and counties in Southern California with specific population thresholds to allow remote public participation in meetings. The law mandates remote comment options, meeting pauses during technical issues, and translation of agendas into commonly spoken languages to enhance civic engagement.

A 14-year-old boy was arrested in Simi Valley, California, for driving a stolen vehicle after police used a license plate reader camera to detect the car. The incident occurred around 7:45 p.m. when the stolen vehicle was identified through a FLOCK camera system.

A heat advisory has been issued for Southern California as temperatures are expected to rise above seasonal averages, peaking Tuesday through Thursday with Wednesday likely to be the warmest day. The National Weather Service warns that inland valleys in Los Angeles and Ventura counties will experience the hottest conditions.

Four suspects were arrested in Ventura County after authorities seized $1.4 million worth of illicit narcotics. The arrests occurred during a drug bust involving Simi Valley police and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration in August 2025.

A 9-year-old Ventura County girl is working to walk again after a life-threatening spinal fracture, drawing strength from her family and a therapy dog that survived a similar injury.

A 23-year-old Ventura County man was sentenced to state prison after admitting to driving over 100 mph in a crash that killed two people. The crash occurred on West 5th Street in Oxnard.

Two bicyclists were killed and a third injured when a suspected drunk driver entered a bike lane on Pacific Coast Highway in Ventura County. The crash occurred around 7:08 p.m. near Solimar Beach Road, according to the California Highway Patrol.

A months-long investigation into a drug trafficking operation across Ventura and Los Angeles counties led to the arrest of 11 people and the seizure of narcotics, firearms, and drug money, authorities announced.

California Department of Fish and Wildlife officials tranquilized and removed a black bear from a Ventura County neighborhood. Santa Paula Police Department responded to a bear sighting on Main Street in Santa Paula, cautioning residents to stay indoors.

A 72-year-old man from Oxnard, California, was sentenced to three years and four months in prison for a hate crime against a Black couple. He was convicted of felony criminal threats, attempted second-degree commercial burglary, and exhibiting a deadly weapon.

A 3.5-magnitude earthquake struck the Fillmore area in Ventura County. The U.S. Geological Survey reported the event on Saturday.

An earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 3.5 occurred in the mountains of Ventura County on Saturday afternoon, according to officials. The U.S. Geological Survey reported the quake struck at 12:21 p.m., with an epicenter 9.4 miles northwest of Fillmore at a depth of 14.9 miles, and there were no initial reports of damage.

A Southern California driver escaped unharmed after crashing into a bear on a Ventura County freeway, causing the bear to be fatally wounded. The incident occurred as the bear was crossing the highway.

Two people were hospitalized following a wrong-way collision in Ventura County on June 1. The crash occurred along Vineyard Avenue near Perello Ranch Road in Oxnard, involving a Tesla sedan. California Highway Patrol officers responded to the early morning incident.

A Ventura County man was charged with attempted murder for allegedly trying to run down police officers after crashing his SUV into a doughnut shop. Authorities confirmed the suspect's actions targeted law enforcement following the collision.

A 14-year-old girl from Ventura County with depression and a history of self-harm went missing Thursday night. Elise Peloso was last seen leaving her home in Oak Park around 7:15 p.m.

A Ventura County man was sentenced to more than five years in prison for smuggling at least 1,700 reptiles from Mexico, as reported by the DOJ.

A Ventura County man who smuggled at least 1,700 reptiles from Mexico to the United States over six years was sentenced to 65 months in federal prison. The trafficking involved reptiles smuggled across the border during a six-year period.

Firefighters responded to a brush fire in Calabasas near Mulholland Highway and Malibu Canyon Road. A water-dropping helicopter was used, and no buildings were immediately threatened, though power lines are present. The fire follows three major fires in Ventura and Riverside counties last week.

A fire near Ventura County has triggered air quality monitoring efforts due to its proximity to the Santa Susana Field Laboratory, a former nuclear test site. The Ventura County Fire Department announced the monitoring measures on Wednesday evening as a precautionary measure.

A 32-year-old Ventura County man has pleaded not guilty to a murder charge in connection with a killing that occurred nearly 12 years ago at Sierra Linda Park in Oxnard. The November 13, 2014 incident, which resulted in the death of 55-year-old Labh Nigah, was witnessed by schoolchildren. The case has taken over a decade to reach this plea stage in court.

Authorities arrested over 300 suspects and rescued 40 children during "Operation Firewall," a monthslong child exploitation sting spanning five Southern California counties. The multi-county crackdown targeted child exploitation across Los Angeles, Orange, San Bernardino, Santa Barbara, and Ventura counties.

Multiple wildfires including the Sandy, Bain, Verona and Santa Rosa Island fires are burning across Southern California, creating unhealthy air conditions. Health warnings and smoke advisories have been issued for residents in Ventura, Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside and San Bernardino counties due to poor air quality from the fires.

The Sandy Fire has destroyed one home in Simi Valley and burned nearly 1,400 acres in Ventura County, with evacuation orders still in place. The fire ignited in Simi Valley and has been driven by wind. It had burned a total of 1,386 acres and was 5% contained.

FEMA has approved a Fire Management Assistance Grant to help fight the Sandy Fire in Ventura County. The grant was authorized after California officials requested assistance on Monday. Federal funding will aid in battling the fire.

A wind-driven fire in Ventura County stalled overnight, allowing some residents to return home. The fire broke out on Monday morning. Evacuation warnings are being lifted.

Firefighters are battling a nearly 1,400-acre wildfire in Ventura County, with thousands of homes evacuated and zero containment as of Tuesday morning. The fire, known as the Sandy Fire, erupted on Monday morning. Crews are hoping for lighter winds on Tuesday to aid their efforts.

Federal agents raided homes of immigrant rights activists in Ventura County, allegedly as retaliation for their work monitoring immigration operations. The activists claim this is part of an ongoing harassment campaign. The early morning raid was conducted by federal agents.

The Sandy Fire has exploded to over 1,300 acres and is spreading east towards Los Angeles County, threatening communities in Simi Valley, Bell Canyon, and Box Canyon. The fire is fast-moving and wind-driven. It has surpassed initial estimates, prompting concerns for local residents.

A fast-growing brush fire in southern California has prompted evacuation orders and damaged at least one home. The fire was reported in Simi Valley, about 30 miles north-west of Los Angeles. Evacuation orders are in place as the fire continues to spread.

Kristian Fonseca, a 27-year-old Oxnard man, was sentenced to life in prison without parole for his role in two separate shootings in 2019 and 2020. He was convicted of murdering two men and attempting to murder two others. The sentencing occurred in Ventura County.

Kai Whitney Sommers, a registered sex offender from Ventura County, pleaded guilty to trafficking two teenage girls for sex after being released from state prison. The 38-year-old man admitted to one count of sex trafficking. This crime occurred just months after his release for previous child sex crimes.

An unusual number of dead seabirds have been found on Southern California beaches, puzzling residents and wildlife experts. The birds, including gulls and cormorants, were scattered across local shorelines from Orange County to Ventura County. Experts are searching for answers to explain the phenomenon.

Christopher Alexander Rodriguez, a 32-year-old man from Oxnard, Ventura County, was convicted of possessing large amounts of methamphetamine with intention to sell. He was found guilty by a jury on two felony charges related to illegal drug sales. The conviction was announced by the Ventura County District Attorney’s Office on May 12.

A transnational burglary crew was arrested in Westlake Village after a pursuit by authorities in Ventura County. The arrest marks a significant crackdown on crime in the area. Authorities successfully busted the crew, bringing them to justice.

Jesus Gonzalez-Arteaga, a 44-year-old man from Oxnard, was sentenced to life in prison without parole for molesting and raping a child between 2018 and 2024. He was found guilty of six felony counts related to the crimes. The sentencing was announced by the Ventura County District Attorney's office.