Man Is Arrested in Kidnaping, Car Theft

Deputies have arrested a Moorpark man on suspicion of kidnaping another man at knifepoint and beating him with a baseball bat during a carjacking, Ventura County sheriff’s deputies said Thursday.

Steven Aguilar, 27, was arrested Thursday morning on suspicion of armed robbery, kidnaping, assault, car theft and drug intoxication after witnesses identified him as the suspect, Sgt. Keith Parks said.

According to a police report, Aguilar walked up to Carlos Torres, 33, of Moorpark about 10:40 p.m. Wednesday, as Torres was getting into his car on Walnut Canyon Road in Moorpark and asked for a ride. When Torres refused, Aguilar pulled a knife, shoved it against Torres’ side and demanded, “Get in the car. Take me to Simi,” the report said.

Torres drove him to the Tapo Canyon Road exit of the Simi Valley Freeway, where Aguilar ordered him to stay in the car, the report said.

After meeting another man there, Aguilar got back into the car and Torres followed his orders to drive back to Moorpark, the report said. When they stopped at the Virginia Colony housing tract, the two struggled inside the car and Aguilar told Torres that he would kill him, deputies said.

When Aguilar took the keys and got out, Torres jumped out and ran for help, but Aguilar chased him and hit him in the back with a baseball bat, deputies said.

While Torres ran to a nearby house for help, Aguilar drove away in the car, deputies said.

Torres suffered minor injuries. His car was found about half a block from the house where Aguilar had been staying, deputies said. The incident is still under investigation.