NEWBURY PARK, Calif. — A joint law enforcement and park ranger operation in a restricted open space sector near Rancho Conejo Playfields led to the arrest of three Thousand Oaks residents on felony narcotics, counterfeit seal, and trespassing charges, the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office announced Thursday afternoon.
The multi-agency sweep took place at approximately 7:00 a.m. on Tuesday, August 11, 2026, within the Arroyo Conejo Open Space near 950 Ventu Park Road in Newbury Park.
According to an official incident notification released by Senior Deputy Ethan Battle, Vulnerable Population Officers (VPO) assigned to the Thousand Oaks Directed Enforcement Unit (DEU) teamed up with Conejo Open Space Conservation Agency (COSCA) rangers to address escalating ordinance violations, trespassing, and environmental degradation within a section of the Arroyo Conejo that remains strictly closed to the general public.
Multi-Month Outreach and Targeted Enforcement Sweep
Over the past several months, VPO deputies and COSCA rangers conducted routine outreach and educational campaigns in the restricted watershed. Despite repeated warnings, officials noted a sharp increase in illegal overnight camping and unauthorized access in violation of established COSCA municipal codes.
The prolonged unhoused presence resulted in several unpermitted encampments that accumulated substantial volumes of refuse and caused environmental harm to sensitive riparian habitats along the Arroyo Conejo drainage corridor.
During the August 11 operation, deputies and rangers entered the terrain to contact individuals living in the illegal camps, resulting in three custody bookings:
- Ivan Diaz, 42, of Thousand Oaks: Contacted while illegally camping in the restricted zone. Deputies located a quantity of methamphetamine packaged for drug sales along with clear indicia of narcotics trafficking. Diaz was arrested for possession of a controlled substance for sale (Health & Safety Code 11378), possession of drug paraphernalia (Health & Safety Code 11364(a)), and criminal trespassing (Penal Code 602(m))
- Carlos Menendez Lemus, 21, of Thousand Oaks: Contacted and arrested for being under the influence of a controlled substance (Health & Safety Code 11550(a)), possession of drug paraphernalia (Health & Safety Code 11364(a)), possession of a controlled substance (Health & Safety Code 11377(a)), felony possession of a counterfeit seal (Penal Code 472), and three outstanding local misdemeanor arrest warrants.
- Daniel Gutierrez, 41, of Thousand Oaks: Contacted and arrested for being under the influence of a controlled substance (Health & Safety Code 11550(a)).
All three suspects were taken into custody without incident and transported to the Ventura County Pre-Trial Detention Facility in Ventura for formal booking and processing.
During the search of the encampment sites, deputies also identified and recovered a stolen bicycle, which was subsequently verified and returned to its rightful owner.
"Deputies and rangers noticed an increase in trespassing and overnight camping in violation of COSCA ordinances. Deputies and rangers located several illegal encampments which accumulated a large amount of trash and caused damage to the environment," the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office stated in an official agency bulletin.
"During the operation, Deputies contacted Ivan Diaz who was illegally camping and located a quantity of methamphetamine packaged for sales along with indicia of narcotic sales... COSCA Rangers conducted an extensive clean-up in the Arroyo Conejo. The clean-up resulted in the storage of property from two illegal camps along with the removal of a large quantity of trash," public safety officials added in their narrative.
Environmental Restoration and Community Outreach Capabilities
Following the removal of the suspects, COSCA rangers conducted an extensive environmental restoration effort throughout the affected Arroyo Conejo corridor. Rangers cataloged and placed personal items from two illegal camps into temporary storage in accordance with county protocols, while clearing out massive piles of abandoned trash and debris to protect local wildlife and waterway channels.
The Thousand Oaks Directed Enforcement Unit operates as a specialized intelligence-led detective division tasked with targeting prolific offenders and addressing chronic quality-of-life concerns. The unit includes two dedicated Vulnerable Population Officers who balance law enforcement duties with specialized social service outreach for individuals experiencing homelessness across the Conejo Valley.
Maintaining pristine public lands while safeguarding natural ecosystems requires constant coordination between local law enforcement agencies and conservation rangers. Open space preserves throughout Newbury Park and Thousand Oaks provide vital recreational trails and protect native flora and fauna.
When unpermitted encampments expand into sensitive ecological reserves, they introduce significant wildland fire risks, chemical contamination from improperly disposed waste, and severe soil erosion along natural creek banks.
Public safety leaders emphasize that combining social service outreach with firm ordinance enforcement allows the county to address underlying human needs while ensuring that shared environmental resources remain clean, safe, and accessible for the entire community.
Community members with information regarding illegal activity or unhoused community concerns within the City of Thousand Oaks are encouraged to contact Senior Deputy Ethan Battle at (805) 371-8388. Media follow-up inquiries regarding Report Number 26-103842 can be directed to Deputy Matthew Higgins at (805) 371-8388 or via email at Matthew.higgins@venturacounty.gov.
Anonymous tips regarding criminal activity can be submitted to Ventura County Crime Stoppers by calling (800) 222-8477 or visiting venturacountycrimestoppers.org. Official law enforcement advisories can also be viewed directly on the Ventura County Sheriff's Office Nixle portal.