Fire captain from T.O. charged with sexually abusing minors
A Thousand Oaks man, who is a fire captain in Pasadena, has been charged with multiple counts of sexually abusing children for decades, according to authorities.
Christopher James Ramstead, 47, is a firefighter and paramedic with the Pasadena Fire Department and was arrested on suspicion of sexually abusing three children under the age of 14 from March 2003 to July 2025 in Los Angeles and Ventura counties, according to a Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office press release.
His offenses include nine felony counts of committing a lewd act upon a child, the release says. Ramstead has pleaded not guilty and has a bail hearing scheduled for Feb. 13 at the Van Nuys Courthouse, the release adds.
“At the prosecutor’s request, the Court ordered the defendant be held without bail,” said Pamela J. Johnson, spokesperson for the DA’s office in an email.
If convicted for the alleged offenses, Ramstead faces 135 years to life in prison, the release says.
Los Angeles Police Department’s juvenile division detectives say there may be more victims and ask for anyone with information to call 818-374-5415.
Simi pursuit uses K-9, drone but comes up empty-handed
Police in Simi Valley chased down the driver of a vehicle reported stolen Feb. 10, but was not able to capture the driver.
The pursuit started around 8:25 p.m. near Sycamore Drive and State Route 118, according to Simi Valley police Sgt. Jason Wilkinson.
Officers with the Simi Valley Police Department followed the vehicle about a mile to the 2300 block of Marie Street where officers used their patrol vehicle to bump the fleeing vehicle, known as a PIT maneuver, Wilkinson said. The driver then jumped out and fled on foot.
Simi police sent out an email alert about the search around 9 p.m. that warned people to avoid the area.
Officers used a K-9 and drone to search for the driver but were unable to locate the person, Wilkinson said.
Simi police sent a follow-up alert shortly before 11 p.m. when the search ended.
This article originally appeared on Ventura County Star: Fire captain from T.O. faces abuse charges; suspect eludes Simi police
Reporting by Staff reports, Ventura County Star / Ventura County Star
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