Man Honored for Helping Nab Suspect

A Camarillo man who helped deputies nab a burglary suspect was honored as Citizen of the Month on Thursday.

Paul Bohmeyer, a 14-year Camarillo resident, received the award from Ventura County sheriff’s deputies stationed in Camarillo.

The retired GTE manager was standing outside his home Aug. 21 when he saw a man apparently posing as a gardener outside his neighbor’s home. Bohmeyer said the man walked into the backyard and, after coming back out and noticing that he was being watched, watered the lawn for about a minute before leaving.

Bohmeyer said he knew the neighbors didn’t have a gardener, so he took the license plate number of the man’s truck as it pulled away.

Angel Ruiz Estrada, 32, of Oxnard was arrested Aug. 25 and faces two felony counts of residential burglary and one felony count of attempted burglary, authorities said.

Camarillo station Cmdr. Craig Husband said Bohmeyer’s tip helped locate Estrada, who authorities say may be responsible for at least two other residential burglaries in the area. Police recovered more than 90% of the property allegedly stolen from the homes.

Bohmeyer said he didn’t do anything unusual but that it helps to know your surroundings and neighbors.

“We don’t have a Neighborhood Watch or anything, but we do know each other,” he said.

Husband said the department’s first-ever Citizen of the Month award went to someone who went “above and beyond the call of duty,” but he added that the monthly awards will be given to Camarillo residents who also devote time to helping deputies.