Illegal Destructive Device and Materials Seized from Fillmore Resident 

October 5, 2024 – Ventura County Sheriff's Office officials report that on September 15^th, 2024, deputies assigned to the Fillmore Patrol Station responded to the area of East Telegraph Road and Texaco Road after reports of a gun shot heard in the area. A reporting party advised a male subject was observed loitering in a secluded area where the gunshot was heard. The male subject left the area immediately following the gunshot and was unable to be located by responding deputies after an extensive search of the area.

Detectives assigned to the Fillmore Bureau of Investigation conducted a follow-up investigation in conjunction with patrol deputies and identified the male subject as Fillmore resident David Lavine. Through the course of the investigation, Fillmore patrol deputies identified Lavine’s residence as being within quick walking distance from the area of the original call-for-service. A records check revealed Lavine is a convicted felon and is prohibited by law from owning, purchasing, or possessing firearms and/or ammunition. Based on the investigation, detectives obtained a search warrant from a Judge of the Superior Court, Ventura Judicial District, ordering the search of Lavine, any vehicles associated to Lavine, and Lavine’s residence.

On October 1^st, 2024, members of the West County Special Enforcement Unit, Fillmore Police Department, and Fillmore Bureau of Investigation executed a search warrant service at Lavine’s residence, located in the 200 Block of East Telegraph Road, City of Fillmore. While searching Lavine’s room within the residence, deputies discovered ammunition, a device believed to be a homemade destructive device, as well as substances and materials suspected of being components of a destructive device. Out of an abundance of caution for deputies and the surrounding neighborhood, bomb technicians assigned to the Sheriff’s Bomb Squad were called to the scene.

The Sheriff’s Bomb Squad is primarily responsible for the safe disposal of explosives and improvised explosive devises and are the agency’s experts at identifying substances and materials  of destructive devices. Based on their analysis of the items located in Lavine’s room, it is alleged Lavine was in possession of a homemade destructive device and in possession of substances and materials with the intent to make a destructive device.  The Sheriff’s Bomb Squad utilized their lengthy training and experience to diligently render the items safe. The items were seized as evidence and removed from the residence to eliminate any further danger to the neighborhood.

As a result of the search warrant, Lavine was found to be in violation of Penal Code § 30305(a)(1) – Felon in Possession of Ammunition, Penal Code § 18710 (a) – Felony Possession of a Destructive Device, and Penal Code § 18720 – Felony Possession of Destructive Device Materials. Lavine was booked into the Ventura County Main Jail and remains in custody with a $200,000.00 bail amount.

The Ventura County Sheriff’s Office and Fillmore Police Department are committed to strengthening community partnerships and improving public safety for all residents. Community members requesting education on bomb threat response or public awareness programs concerning the dangers of explosives and fireworks are encouraged to contact Senior Deputy Daniel Turock via email (listed below) or follow the Sheriff’s Bomb Squad on Instagram @VCSHERIFF_BOMBSQUAD.

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 @fillmoresheriff, Facebook, Instagram @VCSHERIFF and @FILLMOREPD, and with Nixle by texting your zip code to 888777 to receive local law enforcement and public safety alerts and advisories.

Source: Ventura County Sheriff's Office