THOUSAND OAKS : Businessman Rams Car to Stop Suspects

A Thousand Oaks businessman sacrificed his Ford Bronco so that security guards at The Oaks mall could catch some suspected shoplifters, sheriff’s deputies said Tuesday.

The man, who asked that he not be identified, rammed his car into the suspects’ getaway truck after he asked them to stop and they refused.

Shortly thereafter, security guards caught the suspects fleeing through the mall parking lot on foot.

Arrested on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon, burglary and conspiracy to commit burglary were Jonathon Jason Gorges, 22, of Camarillo and a 15-year-old youth, also from Camarillo.

The incident began about 5:30 p.m. Monday when security guards at the Broadway department store said they saw a youth shove several shirts into a backpack and leave without paying.

A security guard and a store manager followed the youth outside the mall and placed him under arrest. After they handcuffed him, a man--later identified as Gorges--came up and threatened them with a knife, demanding that the youth be released, Ventura County sheriff’s deputies said.

Gorges then allegedly took off with the handcuffed juvenile and climbed inside his truck, deputies said.

Shortly afterward, the witness, who owns a business in the mall, drove up to Gorges and demanded that he stop the truck, according to reports.

Gorges then made a sudden movement, which the witness thought was him reaching for a gun, so he rammed Gorges’ truck to stop him. The businessman’s truck received minor damage, while Gorges’ truck was disabled, deputies said.

Gorges is being held at the Ventura County jail in lieu of $20,000 bail and the youth is being detained in Juvenile Hall.