Santa Paula Man charged in head-on crash with Ventura County Sheriff’s Deputy and K9

VENTURA COUNTY, Calif. — The Ventura County District Attorney's Office has charged a Santa Paula man over a head-on crash with a deputy and his K9 on Highway 1 near Neptune's Net Saturday night.

According to the Ventura County Sheriff's Office, at approximately 8:36 p.m., the VCSO deputy, with his K9 partner inside the vehicle, responded to a call about a suspicious subject at the Neptune's Net parking lot near the Ventura County-Malibu line.

The deputy was traveling southbound on Pacific Coast Highway near Deer Creek Road when he was involved in a head-on car collision with 25-year-old Gerardo Israel Escalante, who was driving a white Mercedes sedan, traveling northbound.

Upon impact, the deputy's patrol unit veered off the roadway, became airborne and landed on the large boulders near the shoreline below, according to VCSO.

According the the VCSO, the deputy sustained non-life threatening injuries and was transported to the Ventura County Medical Center.

The deputy's two-year-old K9 partner, a Dutch Shepherd, sustained a minor cut to his face. The K9 was also treated for minor injuries.

VCSO say, Escalante was also transported to VCMC for treatment. After receiving medical treatment, he was arrested for suspicion of driving under the influence.

Ventura County District Attorney Erik Nasarenko, announced charges against Escalante today with felony driving under the influence causing injury, felony driving with a .08% blood alcohol causing injury and one misdemeanor count for unlawful vehicle operation. Escalante has also been charged with several special allegations, including causing great bodily injury in the commission of a felony and for having prior DUI convictions.

Escalante's arraignment began this morning and will be continued on December 27, 2023, at 9:00 a.m. in courtroom 11 of the Ventura County Superior Court.

Escalante is currently in custody with bail set at $500,000.