Ventura County Crime Blog: July 2008

Are you for or against the legalization of marijuana?

Submit your thoughts for our upcoming editorial regarding the pros and cons.

Are you sleeping with the enemy?

Malaika Cohen, author of SHACKLES- Overcoming Domestic Abuse a Modern Day Taboo, shares her experience as a domestic abuse survivor and how you can help others in similar situations.

Unsolved Murder: Mike Grair

On October 10, 2008, Michael Grair's body was found inside his white Cadillac Escalade behind a vacant commercial center he owned. The engine was still running. His murder has yet to be solved and his family is offering $100,000 for information leading to the arrest or conviction of the killer or killers.

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David Manuel Pimentel

Reporter: Ellen Rodriguez 0 Responses

Anyone with information on the following case can contact Detective Sergeant Peter Freiberg at (805) 986-6646 or remain anonymous by contacting Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), where you can receive up to $1,000 for information leading to an arrest.

David Manuel Pimentel: Hit & Run Victim

On Thursday, July 17, 2008, at approximately 5 a.m., the Port Hueneme Police Department responded to an injured subject in the roadway on the 200 block of Surfside Drive. Responding officers located an unconscious male subject lying against the curb on the south side of the roadway. A severely damaged bicycle was lying nearby. Emergency personnel who had also responded attempted to render first aid to the victim, who was not breathing, but were unable to revive him.

A preliminary investigation indicates that the victim was riding his bicycle in the bike lane, eastbound on Surfside Drive when a vehicle struck him. The driver then fled the area leaving the victim lying in the roadway. The victim was later discovered by a passing motorist who then contacted police.

The victim was identified as 66 year old David Manuel Pimentel, a Port Hueneme resident.

A white 2001 Honda Odyssey was located in the parking lot of the 600 block of North Ventura Road in the City of Oxnard. The damage on the van was consistent with the injury to the victim. The van had moderate damage to the left front and left side of the area.

The owner of the van reported it missing at approximately 7 a.m., the time he noticed his van was missing.

Witnesses

-A witness told police that she would see a middle aged man ride a bike on Surfside Drive almost on a daily basis between 3 a.m. and 4 a.m. She believes the subject collected cans.

-Another witness described hearing a sound as "metal scraping the ground" sometime between 2 a.m. and 4 a.m., but did not investigate or see anything.

-A third witness told police he heard a loud "bang" between 3 a.m. and 4 a.m., but also did not get up to investigate or see anything.