Photo: Jessica Macias
VENTURA COUNTY — On January 18th, Ventura County Sheriff’s Department spokesman Sgt. John Wright made public for the first time a series of arrests emanating from events taking place in the Newbury Park area between November 30, 2017, and January 12, 2018.
Joe Higareda
It was on November 30, 2017, that suspected gang member David Smith was “shot and killed in the area of Avenida Del Platino and Calle Diamonte in Newbury Park.” Smith’s death was followed by a “small gathering of people” conducting an “informal memorial service” on December 15, 2017.
Fabian Higareda
That gathering led to a verbal altercation among attendees, pursuant to which “several suspected gang members assaulted three non-gang members”. Victims of the assault suffered a range of injuries from “serious injury” to one’s mouth, lacerations, and severe beatings.
While two of the victims were transported to Los Robles Hospital for treatment, the subsequent investigation identified five Simi Valley resident suspects: Joe Higareda (21), Fabian Higareda (20), Alexis Martinez (28), Jessica Macias (21), and an unnamed 17-year-old male juvenile.
Alexis Martinez
Following the December 15, 2017, assaults, each of those identified continued their violent ways, as reflected in the January 4th arrest of Macias in Newbury Park on charges of assault with a deadly weapon, the January 12th busts of Joe Higareda and Martinez in Simi Valley for assault with a deadly weapon with gang enhancement charges, and the arrest of Fabian Higareda that same day “for dissuading a witness and gang enhancement charges.”
All four were transported to Ventura County Jail and are currently awaiting trial dates.
Photos: Courtesy Ventura County Jail Booking
