Man arrested for Ventura car dealership burglary

VENTURA, Calif - Ventura Police were called to reports of an alarm being activated at a car dealership around 4:45 Saturday morning.

Police were called to Ocean Honda in the 6400 block of Auto Center Drive.

Officers saw a man walking away from the dealership who matched the description of the person who was seen on alarm company video, according to a news release from the police department.

After a brief struggle, officers arrested the man. He was identified as 45-year-old Paul Thornton.

Officers say they found Thornton had keys to the auto dealership and a hammer on him. They also said windows to the dealership were broken.

Thornton was arrested for commercial burglary and felony resisting arrest, the police department said.

Thornton has prior convictions of possession of a controlled substance and paraphernalia, disturbing the peace, and forgery, the police department said.