Ventura Man Held in Truck Theft and Weapons Case
A 22-year-old Ventura man is in custody after he allegedly stole his neighbor’s pickup truck while armed with a loaded AK-47 assault rifle.
Jay Carter was booked into Ventura County Jail on Wednesday on suspicion of carjacking, possession of an assault rifle, criminal threats and possession of a stolen vehicle. Authorities found Carter in front of a house on Santa Rosa Street about 45 minutes after the truck was reported missing from an east Ventura neighborhood, Ventura Police Sgt. Chris Hart said.
During Carter’s arrest, officers noticed a man trying to hide in a vehicle parked nearby. They found Ventura resident Jake Valenzula, 23, who was wanted on charges stemming from a police chase and hit-and-run that occurred April 13, Hart said. Valenzula was booked on suspicion of drug possession, felony evading, hit-and-run and resisting arrest.
More to Read
Start your day right
Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.