VENTURA : Couple Arrested After Shots Are Fired

A homeless couple living in the Ventura River bottom were arrested Saturday after the woman fired a rifle in an attempt to scare off seven fishermen near their encampment, the Ventura County sheriff’s office said.

After the shots were fired alongside the Ojai Freeway near the Stanley Avenue exit about 12:20 p.m., the California Highway Patrol, the Sheriff’s Office and the Ventura Police Department were called to the scene, authorities said.

The woman, who was not identified, was cited for brandishing a firearm and released, Sheriff’s Sgt. Gary Cook said.

Her husband, Randy Howard, was jailed after being arrested on suspicion of cultivation of marijuana, Cook said.

He said officers discovered marijuana plants in the brush near the river while they were making their way to the suspects.

“They found about half a dozen plants, seedlings,” he said. “A relatively small amount.” Officer David Wilson of the Ventura Police Department said the fishermen made their way to a call box along the highway to report the incident.