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Nature of Incident: |
Fire Prevention Operation |
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Report Number: |
25-161136, 25-161196 |
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Location: |
Santa Paula Creek |
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Date & Time: |
12/17/25 @ 06:00 PM |
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Unit(s) Responsible: |
Homeless Liaison Unit, Unmanned Aerial Systems Unit |
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(S)uspects, (V)ictims, (P)arty, (D)ecedent |
City of Residence
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Age |
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Scott Garcia
Edgar Martinez |
Santa Paula
Santa Paula |
42
34 |
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Narrative:
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On December 17, 2025, the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office Homeless Liaison Unit conducted a joint fire prevention operation with the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office Unmanned Aerial Systems Unit in the Santa Paula Creek and Santa Clara River area in the unincorporated area of Santa Paula. The goal of the operation was fire prevention through proactive policing due to multiple recent homeless encampments being burned down in the area.
The Ventura County Fire Department has deemed the Santa Paula Creek and Santa Clara River areas uninhabitable, due to the extreme dangers of fire and flooding. The Ventura County Sheriff’s Homeless Liaison Unit is committed to utilizing technology-based policing methods, intelligence-based policing and a proactive approach to prevent future fires and crime in the local river bottoms.
On this date, during the evening hours, the Homeless Liaison Unit and the Unmanned Aerial Systems Unit conducted a nighttime fire prevention operation in the area. Through thermal imaging from the unmanned aerial system, the Homeless Liaison Unit was able to identify an active fire with large flames inside of a homeless encampment on the south side of Highway 126, just west of the Santa Paula Creek. Deputies assigned to the Homeless Liaison Unit determined Scott Garcia was responsible for the fire and arrested him. Deputies did not locate water or any fire suppression agents in the encampment and noticed multiple propane tanks in the immediate area of the fire. Deputies were able to successfully extinguish the fire. Garcia was booked into the Pre-Trial Detention Facility for the reckless fire. During the operation, Edgar Martinez was also contacted in the area and was ultimately arrested for narcotic related charges.
The Ventura County Sheriff’s Office would like to remind the public to report suspicious behavior by calling the Ventura County Sheriff’s Communication Center at (805) 654-9511 or 9-1-1 for any emergencies. When reporting suspicious behavior, please be a great witness and provide as much detail as possible.
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Prepared by: |
Deputy Amanda Melgoza |
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News Release Date: |
December 23, 2025 |
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Follow-Up Contact: |
Deputy Amanda Melgoza
805-388-5141 |
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Approved by:
Booking Photo Release: |
Captain John Hadjucko
YES NO
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