Ventura | Probation search leads to recovery of stolen firearm and three arrests

Ventura County Sheriff Department – Incident Press Release

Probation search at The Hamilton House leads to the arrest of three individuals and the recovery of a firearm, stolen in the course of a burglary from a residence in Meiners Oaks in the Ojai Valley, during the month of March 2019.

On 04-05-2019, at approximately 9:50 AM, members of the Ventura County Post Release Offender Supervision (PROS) Unit, went to The Hamilton House, located in the 300 block of East Main Street in the City of Ventura, to conduct a probation search on (S) Nancey Mansell.

Officers entered the apartment and during a protective sweep, detained Mansell and (S) Michael Hernandez. Hernandez was known to the officers as a Post Release Offender or PRO, who was pending a warrant. Mansell and Hernandez were detained and a probation search of the apartment conducted.

While the officers were conducting the probation search, (S) Mitchell Joyce arrived at the residence. Joyce displayed signs and symptoms of being under the influence of a controlled substance and was detained. A pat down search for weapons of Joyce was conducted prior to conducting the Drug Abuse Recognition (DAR) evaluations. On Joyce’s person, officers located a loaded, semi-automatic, .380 Colt handgun, heroin, and syringes. A records check of the firearm revealed it was stolen during a residential burglary that occurred in Meiners Oaks during the month of March, 2019.

A records check of Joyce revealed he was a prohibited person from possessing firearms based on numerous prior prison sentences. The records check further revealed Joyce was out on bail for two felony cases. On 06-21-2018, Joyce posted bail after spending almost a year in custody pending an 11352(a) H.S. – Sale/ Transportation/Offer To Sell A Controlled Substance. On 06-22-2018 (only a day later), Joyce was arrested for being a prohibited person for possessing a firearm. Joyce posted bail and was again released from custody on 01-03-2019. Both cases remain open. Joyce is a documented member of the criminal street gang known as The Skin Head Dogs.

Joyce was arrested for 29800(a) P.C. – Possession Of A Firearm By A Prohibited Person, 30305(a)(1) P.C. – Person Prohibited From Possessing A Firearm Possess Ammunition, 27545

P.C. – Unlawful Transfer Of A Firearm, 25850(a) P.C. – Carrying A Loaded Firearm On One’s Person, 11550(e) H.S. – Under The Influence With A Firearm, 11370.1(a) H.S. – Possession Of A Controlled Substance With Firearm, 11350(a) H.S. – Possession Of A Controlled Substance, and 11364(a) H.S. – Possession Of Drug Paraphernalia. Mansell was arrested for 1203.2(a)

P.C. – Felony Violation Of Probation. Hernandez was arrested for 11364(a) H.S. and 3454(c)

P.C. – Flash Incarceration.

The Ventura County Post Release Offender Supervision Unit is made up of a Deputy Sheriff with the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office, a Detective with the Ventura Police Department, and an Officer with the Simi Valley Police Department.