County spokesperson resigns after DUI hit-and-run arrest

Bautista was picked up in the city of Ventura on Friday



The County of Ventura’s lead spokesperson has resigned after she was arrested over the weekend on suspicion of hit-and-run drunk driving.

Ashley Bautista

Cmdr. Edward Caliento of the Ventura Police Department said police stopped county Public Information Officer Ashley Bautista around 9 p.m. June 17 near Ocean and S. Seaward avenues.

An hour earlier, Caliento said, someone called police to say they were rear-ended by Bautista’s vehicle while waiting at a stop sign to turn onto Harbor Boulevard from Paseo de Playa. Bautista allegedly drove off after the collision.

Officers determined she was under the influence and placed her under arrest, Caliento said. The 40-year-old was alone in her vehicle at the time. No injuries were reported, the commander said.

VPD officers booked Bautista into Ventura County Main Jail in Ventura just after midnight on June 18, jail records show. She was released that day with an order to appear in court Aug. 18.

If convicted of DUI hit-and-run, Bautista faces a maximum penalty of six months in jail and/or a $1,000 fine.

Jackie Nuñez, the county’s assistant PIO, said Bautista  resigned Tuesday. The county had no further comment.

Bautista had worked as the county public’s information officer since January 2020. Prior to being hired, she spent five years as the communications manager for the City of Ventura and the Ventura Police Department, where she won several state and national awards for her leadership in the communications field.

Previously, she worked in the private sector as a partner in a private firm specializing in communications and public relations. She was recognized by the Pacific Coast Business Times as one of the Top 50 Women in Business.

Bautista earned a base salary of $203,340 at the time of her resignation. She did not return a request to comment for this article.

This story was updated at 6:05 p.m., June 21, 2022, to reflect that Bautista had resigned her post.