Refrigerator catches fire at Ojai Valley Starbucks, more news

Staff reports
| Ventura County Star

Here’s a look at recent incidents and announcements from Ventura County agencies:

Fire breaks out at Ojai Valley Starbucks

A refrigerator caught fire inside a Starbucks along Highway 33 in the Mira Monte area Friday afternoon, drawing personnel from the Ventura County Fire Department.

Crews arrived within minutes of the fire being reported around 3:45 p.m. at 11534 N. Ventura Ave., said Andrew Dowd, a paramedic with the department. The highway is also called North Ventura Avenue along that stretch.

The fire activated the sprinkler system, which helped bring the fire under control, Dowd said.

All the occupants of the store were able to get out before the firefighters arrived. No injuries were reported.

The fire was contained to the refrigerator. Crews remained on scene as of 5 p.m. to ensure there was no further spread, Dowd said.

The cause remains under investigation.

Two people arrested for the robbery of a tobacco store in El Rio

A 20-year-old Oxnard man was arrested Thursday night after a robbery at a tobacco store in El Rio, and a second suspect, an 18-year-old, was arrested Friday.

Ventura County Sheriff’s Office deputies, who patrol the unincorporated area near Oxnard, received a report of a robbery in progress in the 2800 block of East Vineyard Avenue.

Two men entered the store, used a box cutter to arrest a clerk and left with the merchandise, sheriff’s Capt. Ken Truitt said.

Deputies first found and arrested one of the suspects.

The Oxnard man was arrested on suspicion of second-degree robbery and conspiracy to commit a felony as well as misdemeanor resisting a police officer, jail records show. He is being held on $60,000 bail and is scheduled to appear in Ventura County Superior Court on Tuesday.

Around noon Friday, authorities located the second suspect, an 18-year-old who was on juvenile probation, Truitt said. He was arrested on suspicion of robbery and was also linked to assault with a deadly weapon after the alleged robbery of a tobacco store.