November 24, 2025 – Ventura County Sheriff's Office officials report that on November 18, 2025, at approximately 
8:54 P.M. (2054 hours), deputies from the Ojai Station responded to the area of Ojai Avenue and Del Norte Road regarding a traffic collision. Sheriff’s Dispatch advised that a witness reported the driver involved in the collision had fled the scene on foot toward the nearby bike path.
Upon arrival, deputies located a white Volkswagen Tiguan that had collided with a utility pole at the intersection. A short time later, a male victim approached deputies at the collision scene and reported that a subject, later identified as Russell Escalona, had battered him and attempted to take his vehicle. The victim explained he had been near his vehicle, parked on Ojai Avenue across from the Von’s Shopping Center on Maricopa Highway, when Escalona approached, assaulted him, and tried to steal his vehicle. The victim defended himself and was able to drive away from the area. He provided deputies with a description of Escalona and was found to have minor injuries.
A separate witness to the traffic collision alerted deputies that he had just seen Escalona near Von’s Shopping Center. When deputies attempted to contact Escalona, he fled on foot, resulting in a short foot pursuit through Von’s parking lot. Escalona was quickly apprehended and placed under arrest. He sustained minor injuries during the incident and was transported to the Ventura County Medical Center for medical clearance prior to being booked at the Ventura County Main Jail.
After interviewing witnesses and collecting evidence, deputies determined Escalona had committed the following violations:
PC 664/215(a) – Attempted carjacking
PC 242 – Battery
PC 148(a)(1) – Resist, delay, or obstruct a peace officer
VC 23152(g) – Driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs
VC 20002(a) – Hit-and-run (property damage)
Escalona also had an outstanding local misdemeanor warrant for failure to appear.
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Nature of Incident: |
DUI Related Collision and Attempted Carjacking |
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Report Number: |
RB # 25-148315 |
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Location: |
Ojai Avenue at Del Norte Road |
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Date & Time: |
11/18/2025 8:54 PM |
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Unit(s) Responsible: |
Ojai Patrol Station/Ojai Detectives |
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(S)uspects, (V)ictims, (P)arty, (D)ecedent |
City of Residence |
Age |
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(S) Russell Escalona |
Oxnard |
27 |
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