Crowds gathered to gawk at a black bear in a tree in the middle of Ojai early Saturday afternoon.

      Eventually, Ventura County Sheriff's Deputies blocked off the street, and moved the crowds back from the house at 213 Aliso.  A Sergeant at the scene said they hoped the bear would come down on his own, and then would be encouraged to go back to the woods.

     In the early evening hours, Department of Fish and Game officers shot the bear with tranquilizer darts.  After it fell down, they administered a lethal third dose.  2009                                         (C) Daly Road Graphics 2019