– By F. Scott Faulkner
VENTURA, CA — January 5, 2026
A Ventura woman was arrested after a failed attempt to flee from officers in a reported stolen
truck.
Brooke Lawton, 37, of Ventura, was eventually arrested.
According to Ventura Police Department spokesman Cmdr. Ryan Weeks, “patrol officers spotted
a truck about 4 p.m. December 27 driving along a downtown thoroughfare.” The vehicle had
been reported stolen earlier that day, prompting red lights and siren.
Officers attempted to stop the driver, later identified as Lawton, but the truck kept going, leading police on “a brief pursuit.”
The chase moved through the Ventura College campus and into a residential area south of the
school.
“The driver maneuvered erratically” through neighborhood streets and an active construction
zone. Officers soon terminated the pursuit, citing concerns about the danger to the public.
A short time later, officers located the truck parked behind the gym building at Ventura
Community College.
An officer saw Lawton, “running from the vehicle. After a brief foot chase, Lawton was taken into custody without
further incident.
Lawton was booked into Ventura County Jail on charges of grand theft auto, unlawful taking of a
vehicle, felony evading, reckless driving, driving under the influence of drugs, possession of a
controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia, and vandalism.
Photo: Stock Image
