Deputies with the Malibu/Lost Hills Sheriff’s Station arrested a 33-year-old registered sex offender after responding to reports of suspicious activity in the Leo Carrillo State Beach area of Pacific Coast Highway on Sunday, July 25.
Recently released from state prison and active parolee Israel Padilla was found with nearly 100 items of evidence in his vehicle, including computers and cell phones from recent car burglaries.
Around 4:30 p.m., dispatch received a call from a concerned citizen who had been watching a man attempt to enter parked cars near Mulholland Highway and PCH. The caller detailed the suspect, the suspect’s vehicle and monitored the situation until deputies arrived.
“Deputies arrived and detained suspect Padilla, a resident of Oxnard,” Lieutenant Jim Royal with the Malibu/Lost Hills Sheriff’s Station said. “Padilla was subsequently arrested for burglary, possession of burglary tools and violations of parole.”
First responders to the scene included deputies assigned to the area, with assistance from the Malibu/Lost Hills Sheriff’s Station Beach Team.
Upon arrival, deputies discovered more than 100 pieces of evidence in his vehicle, including cellphones, laptops, tablets and car keys, in addition to various items that were later identified by victims from recent burglaries and confirmed to be stolen from victim’s vehicles.
“When he was brought back to the station, it was discovered he was also a sex registrant,” Royal said.
Padilla had recently been released from a state prison in April and was an active parolee for burglary, according to an alert posted by the station.
A search of records from incidents in Ventura County show Padilla was arrested and booked into Ventura County Jail on March 5, 2008 on suspicion of vehicle burglary in a Ventura parking garage. He was also booked for receiving stolen property and possession of burglary tools, in addition to a parole violation.
He became a registered sex offender from a 2004 arrest in Ventura County. Through Megan’s Law, the California Registered Sex Offender’s website lists Padilla as being charged with lewd or lascivious acts with a child under 14 years of age. The site also lists Padilla with a Score 4, indicating the offender is at a moderate to high risk of committing a new sexual offense.
California’s Megan’s Law provides the public with access to certain information on the whereabouts of sex offenders, enabling the community to better protect themselves and their children.
Padilla now faces numerous felony charges stemming from this burglary incident, as well as the parole violation hold, according to the Sheriff’s alert.
The Malibu/Lost Hills Sheriff’s Station is seeking any additional witnesses who may have seen the suspect in the area or has information relating to this suspect to call Detective Solomon at 818.878.1808, reference File #15-04362.