Ventura County Sheriff – Incident Press Release
On 10-29-2020, at approximately 2:34 PM, a patrol deputy from the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office Headquarters station was in the area of Rose Avenue and Lockwood Street in the city of Oxnard and observed a Chevy van with a false registration tab on the license plate. The deputy initiated a traffic enforcement stop for the above violation. The driver of the van failed to yield and fled onto the northbound 101 freeway toward Ventura. Once on the freeway, the driver of the van swerved across traffic lanes and made abrupt lane changes narrowly missing other vehicles. The driver exited the freeway at Main Street and Mills Road. California Highway Patrol and Ventura Police joined the pursuit as it entered the surface streets in the city of Ventura.
The driver continued on surface streets toward Thompson Boulevard at speeds exceeding 65 mph. Once on Thompson Boulevard the driver drove in the opposite lanes of traffic at high rates of speed on several occasions. This caused other driver’s in the area to make evasive maneuvers to avoid a collision with the suspect’s vehicle. At about the same time, Ventura Police 911 Communications Center received a call from a female frantically screaming on the line that she was in the van and was not able to get out and was not able to get the driver who was later identified as Christian Vega to stop.
Based on the reckless manner and high speeds Vega was driving authorities determined the situation was too great of a risk to the public and terminated the pursuit. Vega was last seen driving toward the west end of Ventura to elude capture.
Detectives from the Sheriff’s Gang Unit were in the area and had been monitoring the pursuit.
Detectives knew Vega was wanted on a felony warrant for PC 69 / Resisting an Executive Officer and was a gang member with an extensive criminal background from the city of Oxnard. Detectives responded to the area where the van was last seen and located the van parked unoccupied at the corner of Bell Way in the city of Ventura. Detectives canvassed the area and could not locate Vega or the female. Detectives searched the van prior to towing it and found ammunition and other various items of contraband. Due to Vega being a convicted felon, it was determined he was also in violation of PC 30305(a) / Felon in Possession of Ammunition as well as possibly being in possession of a firearm.
Detectives from the Sheriff’s Gang Unit continued to investigate the whereabouts of Vega’s location and assure the safety of the female. The detective’s investigation led them to Panorama City the following morning. While searching the area, detectives from the Sheriff’s Gang Unit observed Vega and the female walking near the intersection of Van Nuys Boulevard and Lanark Street. Detectives attempted to contact Vega and the female. Vega again tried to flee but was quickly taken into custody after a short foot pursuit. The female was also contacted and found to be unharmed.
Vega was transported back to Ventura County and booked into the Ventura County Jail for the felony warrant, felony evading, kidnapping and resisting arrest and felon in possession of ammunition. Vega is currently being held without bail pending a future court appearance.
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