Police Report Bat Fight and Mischief

VENTURA — Other than an altercation involving bat-wielding youths, area police officials said Halloween mischief was no more serious than usual.

At about 8 p.m., Ventura police officers responded to a call of a fight involving about 20 youths “trick or treating” with baseball bats in the 6400 block of Stork Street. No one was seriously injured. Police suspect the altercation was gang-related.

Earlier in the evening there was a report of about 10 people throwing firecrackers at trick or treaters on Jasper Street south of the Santa Paula Freeway.

At 8:40 p.m., officers received a report of passengers in a blue pickup truck stealing jack-o’-lanterns in the 2700 block of Preble Avenue, but did not locate any suspects.

In Simi Valley, the Police Department put extra officers on the street for the evening, and it seemed to have helped keep things calm, said Lt. Rex Jones.

“The most we’ve had this evening is the typical theft of candy from children by pranksters,” Jones said.