On November 25th, 2023, at approximately 12:32 AM, Ventura County Sheriff’s Dispatch received a call for service of “shots fired” at a ranch property located in the 21000 block of South Mountain Road in the unincorporated area of Santa Paula. Deputies out of the Fillmore Patrol Station responded to the call for service and subsequently arrested Refugio Cortez for misdemeanor narcotics violations during a traffic stop. No firearms were located in Cortez’s vehicle at that time.
In December 2023, WC-SEU detectives continued the investigation and obtained a search warrant for Cortez’s residence in Santa Paula. On December 28th, 2023, at approximately 9:34 AM, detectives contacted Cortez during a traffic stop and detained him pursuant to the search warrant. Detectives then served the warrant at Cortez’s residence and seized 6 handguns, 6 rifles, including an AK-47 assault rifle, as well as various types of ammunition and narcotics paraphernalia. Cortez is prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition due to a domestic violence protective order conviction. The located firearms were not registered to Cortez or anyone at his residence.
Cortez was arrested for multiple felony and misdemeanor violations, including prohibited person in possession of a firearm, unlawful transfer of a firearm, possession of an assault rifle, prohibited person in possession of ammunition, possession of a controlled substance with a firearm, and misdemeanor driving with a suspended license with a prior DUI conviction. Cortez was booked into the Pre-Trial Detention Facility and remains in-custody with a $110,000 bail amount. His court date is scheduled for the afternoon of January 2nd, 2024.
The West County Special Enforcement Unit is comprised of eight detectives whose focus is assisting West County Patrol Stations with the investigation of various crimes, including but not limited to violent crimes and illegal firearm activities. The Sheriff’s Office has seen an increase of illegal firearm activities in Ventura County. If you have any information about illegal weapons, please contact West County Special Enforcement Unit Sergeant Beau Rodriguez at 805-767-0360.
The Ventura County Sheriff’s Office would like to thank members of the public for their on-going support and due diligence in providing information to assist our agency in solving crimes. We are better at what we do because of our community partnerships.
Join us in the fight on crime by following us on Twitter @VENTURASHERIFF, Facebook, Instagram @ VCSHERIFF, and with Nixle by texting your zip code to 888777 to receive local law enforcement and public safety alerts and advisories.
| Nature of Incident: | Multiple Firearms Seized During Search Warrant | ||||
| Report Number: | 23-161765 | ||||
| Location: | Santa Paula | ||||
| Date & Time: | December 28, 2023 @ 9:34 AM | ||||
| Unit(s) Responsible: | West County Special Enforcement Unit |
||||
| (S)uspects, (V)ictims, (P)arty, (D)ecedent |
City of Residence |
Age | |||
| (S) Cortez, Refugio |
Santa Paula |
37 | |||
Source: Ventura County Sheriff's Office
