Arrows Shot at Police Officers

Three police officers responding to a traffic call in midtown Ventura early Saturday were ambushed by someone shooting arrows at them, authorities reported.

The incident occurred about 3:30 a.m. while the officers were inspecting an abandoned car in the 1800 block of Ocean Avenue, said Lt. John Garner. No one was injured.

According to Garner, officers Thomas Mendez, Jack Ortega and Robert Ortiz received a call about a car being driven on a flat tire, causing sparks to fly. When the officers arrived, the driver had fled and the air bag inside the car had deployed, he said.

While the officers were inspecting the car, two arrows were shot at them, Garner said. The officers crouched behind their patrol cars and waited as two more arrows were shot. Based on the type of arrows they were, police believe they came from a crossbow used for hunting.

A five-person special weapons team was sent to the scene, Garner said. Those officers searched several homes near Ocean Avenue and Santa Cruz Street, but no arrests were made.