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Ventura County Sheriff's Office
Monday June 21st, 2021 :: 03:29 p.m. PDT

Community

Arson Suspect Arrested

Nature of Incident: Arson Suspect Arrested
Report Number: 21-78355
Location: 200 Block of Rancho Road, Thousand Oaks
Date & Time: June 16, 2021 @ 3:13 AM
Unit(s) Responsible: Thousand Oaks Police Department
California Highway Patrol Moorpark Area Office
Ventura County Sheriff’s Office Bomb/Arson Unit
Ventura County Fire Department Arson Investigation Unit
 
(S)uspects, (V)ictims, (P)arty, (D)ecedent

City of Residence

Age
(S) Gustavo Martinez Ramirez
 
Thousand Oaks
 
25
 
Narrative:
Investigators arrested (S) Gustavo Martinez Ramirez after he started a brush fire to a hillside along the 200 block of Rancho Road, in Thousand Oaks.
 
On June 16th, 2021, at about 3:13 AM, the Ventura County Fire Department (VCFD) received a call of a brush fire in the 200 block of Rancho Road, south of the US 101 Freeway, in Thousand Oaks.  VCFD personnel quickly arrived on scene and extinguished the fire, which was held to about one acre.  The fire was contained to the brush only and no structures were damaged during the incident. 
 
A witness in the area called into Ventura County Fire Dispatch and stated they had seen a suspect light the fire. The witness gave a description and location of where the suspect was last seen.  California Highway Patrol (CHP) Officers, from the Moorpark Office, located and detained Ramirez about 150 yards from where the fire started.  Ventura County Sheriff’s Deputies from the Thousand Oaks Police Station responded and relieved the CHP Officers. 
 
Arson Investigators from the VCFD and Sheriff’s Office arrived on scene and initiated an investigation into the cause of the brush fire.  They contacted the witness and interviewed Ramirez.  Their investigation determined the fire was the result of arson.  Ramirez was identified as a suspect in the crime.  Ramirez was arrested for one felony count of arson and booked into the Pre-Trial Detention Facility.  Ramirez remains in custody on $60,000 bail and is scheduled to appear in Ventura County Superior Court on July 1, 2021.
 
The Ventura County Fire Department, Thousand Oaks Police Department and California Highway Patrol would like to thank the citizens who quickly reported the fire and acted swiftly to help identify the suspect. 
 
We would like to remind the public to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity.  Due to low fuel moisture and drought conditions, extreme fire behavior is expected to continue throughout the year.  Always be prepared for emergency evacuation. 
 
Prepared by: Detective Gregg Delarosa #3762  
News Release Date: June 21, 2021  
Media Follow-Up Contact: Detective Gregg Delarosa – 805-383-8743 [email protected]
 
 
Approved by:
 
 
Booking Photo Release:
Captain Alan Hartkop
 
 YES     NO  
 
           
 
Ventura County Crime Stoppers will pay up to $1,000 reward for information, which leads to the arrest and criminal complaint against the person(s) responsible for this crime.  The caller may remain anonymous.  The call is not recorded.  Call Crime Stoppers at 800-222-TIPS (8477).
 

Address/Location
Ventura County Sheriff's Office
800 S Victoria Ave
Ventura, CA 93003

Contact
Emergency: 9-1-1
Non-emergencies: 805-654-9511

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