August 4, 2023 - Ventura County Sheriff's Office officials report that on investigators with the Ventura County Fentanyl and Overdose Crimes Units (VCFOCUS) concluded an investigation of Patrick Owens of Ventura for selling controlled substances to Ventura County residents.
During the month of July 2023, VCFOCUS investigators received information that an unidentified person who lives in the beach community of Ventura, commonly referred to as Pierpont, was selling controlled substances. Investigators identified this person as Patrick Caleb Owens of Ventura.
During the investigation, investigators obtained a search warrant for Owens’ residence. On August 2, 2023, at approximately 8:50 A.M. (0850 hours), VCFOCUS investigators located Owens leaving the Pierpont area, driving on southbound Harbor Boulevard, with his four-year-old son in the vehicle. A traffic stop was conducted of Owens and he was detained. The search warrant was served on Owens’ vehicle and residence located in the 1000 block of Hingham Lane, Ventura. The search of Owens’ vehicle yielded a small amount of concentrated cannabis and THC edibles.
As a result of the search of Owens’ residence, investigators located approximately 98 pounds of processed marijuana, 30 pounds of concentrated cannabis, 9 pounds of psilocybin mushrooms, 32 ounces of GHB, 32 ounces of cannabis syrup, 2 pounds of amphetamine pills, 1 pound of ecstasy pills, 11 ounces of cocaine, 300 THC vape cartridges and gummies, a shotgun, and $88,520.00 in United States currency. Investigators discovered a large portion of these dangerous drugs were stored in a closet attached to Owens’ son’s bedroom. Based on the dangerous drugs being accessible to the four-year-old, investigators conducted a Drug Endangered Child investigation. Ventura County Child Protective Services also responded.
Patrick Owens was arrested and booked into Ventura County Jail for violation of several California Health and Safety Code sections covering possession of controlled substances for sale as well as child endangerment. Owens’ significant other and mother of the four-year-old child, Lauren Taulbee, was contacted by investigators and she voluntarily responded to the scene of the traffic stop. Taulbee was also arrested for the same charges and booked into Ventura County Jail. Ventura County Child Protective Services took custody of Owens’ and Taulbee’s son.
The street level prices of the drugs seized from Owens and Taulbee is estimated at $434,660.00.
Nature of Incident: Pierpont Couple Arrested for Possession of Controlled Substances for Sale and Child Endangerment.
Report Number: 23-98834
Location: 1000 Block of Hingham Lane, Ventura
Date & Time: August 2, 2023 @ 8:50AM
Unit(s) Responsible: Ventura County Fentanyl and Overdose Crimes Units (VCFOCUS)
|
(S)uspects, (V)ictims, (P)arty, (D)ecedent |
City of Residence |
Age |
|
(S) Patrick Caleb Owens |
Ventura |
40 |
The Ventura County Fentanyl Overdose and Crimes Units (VCFOCUS) is a task force made up of Ventura County regional law enforcement agencies. The primary mission of this partnership is to combat fentanyl related crimes and opioid overdoses by targeting the supply chain of individuals and criminal organizations responsible for the sales of these drugs into Ventura County. In addition, the task force works to identify new trends of abuse among the younger population and educate the community at large on the lethal danger of this epidemic.
VCFOCUS has partnered with Ventura County Behavioral Health as an active member of the County Opioid Abuse Suppression Taskforce (COAST) in a campaign to reduce overdoses and educate the public about the dangers of opioids and other drugs. Comprehensive information can be found at www.VenturaCountyResponds.org.
The public may contact investigators from the VCFOCUS at (805) 383-8700 or VCFOCUS@ventura.org with additional information about this case, or any other information related to narcotics.
Ventura County Crime Stoppers will pay up to $1,000 reward for information, which leads to the arrest and criminal complaint against the person(s) responsible for this crime. The caller may remain anonymous. The call is not recorded. Call Crime Stoppers at 800-222-TIPS (8477).
Source & photo: Ventura County Sheriff's Office
