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News Story - Fatal Overdose Arrest
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News Story - Fatal Overdose Arrest 
VENTURA COUNTY PHARMACEUTICAL CRIMES UNIT
News Story Release
News Story Release
| Nature of Incident: | Narcotics Arrest Related to Fatal Overdose Investigation | ||||
| Report Number: | 21-114622 | ||||
| Location: | 8900 block of San Fernando Road, Sun Valley CA | ||||
| Date & Time: | December 1, 2021 - 1520 Hours | ||||
| Unit(s) Responsible: | Ventura County Interagency Pharmaceutical Crimes Unit (PCU) Ventura County Narcotics Street Team Ventura County Combined Agency Team Moorpark Patrol Station |
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| (S)uspects, (V)ictims, (P)arty, (D)ecedent |
City of Residence |
Age | |||
| (S) John Lester |
Van Nuys |
40 | |||
| Narrative: | |||||
| On December 1, 2021, the Ventura County Sheriff’s Pharmaceutical Crimes Unit (PCU) served a search warrant in connection to a fatal drug overdose that occurred in the City of Moorpark. As a result of this search warrant, John Lester was arrested for various narcotics and weapons charges. On August 29, 2021, Moorpark Patrol deputies were dispatched to the 15100 block of Campus Park Drive in the City of Moorpark reference a subject who was deceased as the result of a drug overdose. PCU detectives took over the investigation and identified Lester as a possible suspect who sold the fentanyl to the victim that caused their death. On December 1, 2021 PCU detectives, located Lester in the Sun Valley area of Los Angeles and detained him pursuant to a search warrant. During a search of his mobile home, detectives located fentanyl, methamphetamine, a firearm with a threaded barrel capable of accepting a silencer, and U.S. currency indicative of drug sales. Lester was arrested for 11351 HS- Possession of a Controlled Substance for Sale; 11352 HS Sales of a Controlled Substance; 11370.1 HS, Possession of a Controlled Substance with a Firearm; 11378 HS- Possession of a Dangerous Drug, 29800(a)(1) PC- Possession of a Firearm by an Addict or Felon; 30305(a)(1) PC- Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person and 30605(a) PC- Possession of an Assault Weapon. Lester was booked into the Ventura County Jail and is scheduled for arraignment on December 15, 2021 in Ventura County Superior Court. He was released from custody after posting $50,000 bail. The investigation into the fatal overdose is still ongoing. The public may contact investigators from the Ventura County Interagency Pharmaceutical Crimes Unit at (805) 383-8700 or [email protected] with additional information about this case, or any other information related to narcotics. The Ventura County Pharmaceutical Crimes Unit is a task force made up of members from the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office and the Thousand Oaks Police Department; The primary mission of the task force is combatting the transfer of legal prescription medication and fentanyl to the illegal market. In addition, the task force works to identify and stop new trends of abuse among the younger population and investigates overdoses due to both prescription medication and illicit drug use. |
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| Prepared by: | Sergeant John Hajducko |
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| News Release Date: | December 9, 2021 | ||||
| Media Follow-Up Contact: | Detective Jeff Miller (805) 383-4749 |
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| Approved by: |
Captain Brian Slominski |
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Address/Location
Ventura County Sheriff's Office
800 S Victoria Ave
Ventura, CA 93003
Contact
Emergency: 9-1-1
Non-emergencies: 805-654-9511