On February 9, 2022, at approximately 4:00 pm, Simi Valley Police Units responded to the 2500 block of Stearns St. reference a disturbance call. Upon arrival, a 15 year old female student from Simi Valley High School stated she was followed by a man driving a white pickup truck with a camper. The man called out to the student and asked her age and made rude gestures. The man made the student feel uncomfortable and she ran into a nearby business and called the police.
The subject was described as a white male adult, 23 to 25 years of age, skinny build, long blonde braided hair, with a beard on his chin. The subject was wearing a blue short sleeved shirt and shorts.
On February 11, 2022, at approximately 4:15 am, Simi Valley Police Units responded to the 3200 block of Travis Ave. reference a disturbance in progress call. During the contact with the person, the officers noticed the man matched the description of the subject involved in the disturbance incident that occurred near Simi Valley High School on February 9th. This information was forwarded to School Resource Officer Gene Colato, who conducted a follow-up investigation and positively identified the subject and confirmed he was involved in the incident near Simi Valley High School.
It appears that the subject may need mental health services and therefore the case has been referred to the Ventura County District Attorney’s Office and to Ventura County Behavioral Health for further review and evaluation.
The Simi Valley Police Department would like to advise parents to remind their children about the following safety considerations based on what is age appropriate.
- Always tell your parents where you are going.
- Try not to walk anywhere alone. Walk with a friend.
- Do not talk to strangers.
- Do not take anything from strangers.
- Do not go anywhere with strangers.
- Never get into a vehicle with anyone you don’t know.
- Trust your instincts. Go to a trusted adult – teacher, police officer, other parent, older siblings.
- If a stranger grabs you. Fight back and do whatever it takes to attract attention to others for help. Yell out loud, “I don’t know you”.
If you should have any additional information related to this incident, please contact School Resource Officer Gene Colato at (805) 583-6950.
