Two suspects arrested 2/23 after an occupied patrol vehicle was rammed during a stolen vehicle investigative stop

On 2/23 a police investigation, turned into a car chase, triggered a lockdown at VHS. Two suspects fled onto campus while evading police.

Before the suspects arrived on campus, Ventura police officers located a stolen vehicle unoccupied in a parking lot in the 3300 block of East Main St. at 2:09p.m. Street Crimes Unit detectives responded to the report of the stolen vehicle and observed two male suspects enter the parked vehicle and drive away. Officers pursued the suspects in an attempt to conduct a traffic stop on them. Suspects then rammed the stolen vehicle into the occupied police cruiser and fled the scene. Suspects led officers on a pursuit through residential neighborhoods near Midtown Ventura. During the chase, suspects turned down Poli Street which led them to a head-on collision with a parked vehicle in front of the student parking lot. 

After the collision suspects fled the car as fast as possible. Both front and back car doors were left open, along with the trunk of the car. Suspects left behind a single Jordan shoe and other items such as hoodies and drinks. Both of the suspects fled onto campus which prompted a lockdown and chase on foot. VHS teacher Craig Carey chased the suspects along with the police. Carey instructed students to get back and away from the scene, keeping them from the potential hazard.   

The suspects tried to flee, but failed to evade the police. Officers chased the two suspects around the campus until they eventually ended up on the roof of the 100’s wing, above room 105, classroom of English and Journalism teacher Elizabeth Mainz. Police, along with the K-9, captured the suspects and handcuffed them on the roof. Officers identified one of the suspects as 18 year-old Bryan Isaac Ramirez. He was booked into the Ventura County Jail for felony assault with a deadly weapon on a police officer, felony evading, unlawful taking of a vehicle and felony child endangerment. The other suspect is a 17 year-old male juvenile, whose name will not be released since he is a minor. He was arrested for felony possession of a concealed dagger, felony possession of a weapon on school grounds, felony child endangerment and resisting arrest. 

Eyewitness Bryana Orozco ‘27 said, “I had just gotten out of class and was walking to the girls restroom near the 50–60’s building. As I walked toward the freshmen lockers, I saw two guys who looked over the age of 18, running from the direction of the portables toward the front of the school. I heard Carey yelling, ‘Get over here.’ It looked like he was trying to chase them but he stopped shortly after. The guys were running very fast and passed directly by me. I felt scared and stood there for a moment in shock after they ran past.” 

The lockdown lasted less than 30 minutes. Sergeant Jesus Nunez said, “Our officers, including our detectives and School Resource Officers, demonstrated strong teamwork and professionalism throughout this incident…We also want to recognize the outstanding cooperation of Ventura High School staff, who responded quickly and worked closely with us to ensure the campus remained safe. No injuries were reported.”