News Releases

NEWS RELEASE

DATE: March 8^th, 2025 (3:54 P.M.)

SUBJECT: Firearm Arrest
SUSPECTS: 17 Year Old Oxnard Resident

LOCATION: N. “H” St / Ivywood Drive

CONTACT: Matthew Ross, Sergeant

(805) 385-7600 (Mon-Wed 1PM-130AM) | [email protected]

On March 8^th, 2025, at approximately 3:54 p.m., an Oxnard Police Officer conducted at traffic stop for a vehicle code violation in the area of N. “H” St and Ivywood Dr. During a search of one of the passengers, a 17 year old male, was found in possession of a loaded concealed 9mm firearm. The firearm was reported lost/stolen out of San Luis Obispo County. The 17 year old was charged with various felony firearms related offenses.

Anyone with information regarding this case or other criminal activity is encouraged to contact the Oxnard Police Department at (805) 385-7600, or online via the Oxnard Police Department’s website: www.oxnardpd.org, and clicking on Report Suspicious Activity. You can remain anonymous if you choose to do so. You can remain anonymous by calling the Ventura County Crime Stoppers at (800) 222-8477. You can also visit this site: www.venturacountycrimestoppers.org to submit a tip via text or email.

NEWS RELEASE

INCIDENT:	Oxnard’s 2024 Uniform Crime Reporting Data
DATE/TIME:	March 7, 2025, 2:00 PM
PREPARED BY:	Jason Benites, Chief of Police
CONTACT PERSON AND CONTACT INFO:	Rocky Marquez, Investigative Services Bureau Commander [email protected]; (805) 385-7620

DETAILS:

The City of Oxnard participates in the FBI’s Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) Program. For five (5) decades, the Oxnard Police Department (OPD) has contributed data under the UCR Program’s legacy Summary Reporting System (SRS). The FBI has since retired the SRS and transitioned to the National Incident-Based Reporting System (NIBRS) for data collection.

The Oxnard Police Department began reporting NIBRS-compliant crime data on November 15th, 2022. NIBRS is viewed as a more comprehensive reporting system than the SRS. NIBRS goes much deeper to provide circumstances and context for crimes, providing a more detailed understanding of crime patterns and helping law enforcement make informed decisions about crime prevention and public safety. Due to the change in reporting standards, it is not advisable to compare crime data collected under NIBRS to data collected prior to 2023 under SRS.

The table below contains UCR crimes reported in 2024 under the NIBRS Group A Schedule:

Group A Offenses	2024	2023	% Change
Crimes Against Persons
Homicide Offenses	6	13	-54%
Murder/Homicide	5	7	-29%
Negligent Manslaughter	0	3	-100%
Justifiable Homicide (Not a Crime)	1	3	-67%
Rape / Sexual Assault	164	197	-17%
Rape	70	107	-35%
Fondling	94	90	4%
Assault Offenses	1,930	2,086	-7%
Aggravated Assault	890	846	5%
Simple Assault	919	1,101	-17%
Intimidation	121	139	-13%
Kidnapping/Abduction	47	35	34%
Sex Offenses, Other	6	14	-57%
Incest	0	0	0%
Statutory Rape	6	14	-57%
Human Trafficking	0	0	0%
Total Crimes Against Persons	2,153	2,345	-8%
Crimes Against Property
Robbery	237	259	-8%
Burglary/Breaking & Entering	424	450	-6%
Larceny/Theft Offenses	2,769	2,459	13%
Motor Vehicle Theft	720	659	9%
Arson	54	52	4%
Destruction Of Property	1,215	885	37%
Counterfeiting/Forgery	68	63	8%
Fraud Offense	470	524	-10%
Embezzlement	14	12	17%
Extortion/Blackmail	10	5	100%
Bribery	0	0	0%
Stolen Property Offenses	106	113	-6%
Total Crimes Against Property	6,087	5,481	11%
Crimes Against Society
Drug/Narcotic Offenses	1,388	1,756	-21%
Drug/Narcotic Violations	964	1,198	-20%
Drug Equipment Violations	424	558	-24%
Gambling Offenses	0	1	-100%
Pornography/Obscene Material	9	11	-18%
Prostitution	1	2	-50%
Weapons Law Violation	246	285	-14%
Animal Cruelty	8	7	14%
Total Crimes Against Society	1,652	2,062	-20%
Grand Total	9,892	9,888	0%

Violent Crime

There were five (5) homicides in 2024, two (2) fewer than the previous year. Oxnard’s 2024 homicide clearance rate was 60%, all of which were cleared by arrests.

Homicide Offenses	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020
Murder/Homicide	5	7	9	13	8
Negligent Manslaughter ⴕ	0	3
Justifiable Homicide (Not a Crime) ⴕ	1	3
Total	6	13
ⴕ Additional offenses reportable under NIBRS that were not reportable under SRS. Therefore, no counts are available for years prior to OPD’s NIBRS transition in 2023.

Violent Crimes (Legacy SRS Categories)	2024	2023	% Change	Num. Diff
Murder	5	7	-28.6%	-2
Rape	70	107	-34.6%	-37
Aggravated Assault	890	846	14.3%	107
Robbery	237	259	-8.5%	-22
Total Violent Crimes	1,202	1,219	-1.4%	-17

Legacy SRS Reporting Categories	2024	2023	2022*	2021*	2020*
Violent Crimes
Murder	5	7	9	13	8
Rape	70	107	83	82	81
Aggravated Assault *	890	846	513	415	380
Robbery	237	259	221	183	274
Total Violent Crimes	1,202	1,219	826	693	743

* The definition for Aggravated Assault changed under NIBRS to include additional charges not previously reported as Aggravated Assault (i.e., 273.5(a) PC).

Crimes Against Persons	2024	2023	% Change	Num. Diff
Homicide Offenses (excl Justifiable Homicide)	5	10	-50%	5
Nonconsensual Sex Offenses (i.e. Sexual Assault)	164	197	-17%	33
Assault Offenses	1,930	2,086	-7%	156
Kidnapping/Abduction	47	35	34%	-12
Sex Offenses, Other	6	14	-57%	8
Human Trafficking	0	0	0%	0
Total	2,152	2,342	-8%	190

Violent crime decreased by 1.4%, including a decline in robberies of 8.5%. Oxnard’s reported robberies remain 13.8% lower than the pre-pandemic year of 2019, which saw a reported 275 robbery crimes.

Additionally, there was an overall decrease of 11.5% in domestic violence-related offenses in 2024 compared to the previous year. Though domestic violence offenses do not have their own UCR category, we have included Oxnard’s statistics:

Domestic Violence Incidents	2024	2023	% Change	Num. Diff
Misdemeanor Cases	384	359	7.0%	25
Felony Cases	305	374	-18.4%	-69
Total	689	733	-11.5%	-44

Property Crime

Property Crimes (Legacy SRS Reporting Categories)	2024	2023	% Change	Num. Diff
Burglary/Breaking & Entering	424	450	-5.8%	-26
Larceny/Theft Offenses	2,769	2,459	12.6%	310
Motor Vehicle Theft	720	659	9.3%	61
Arson	54	52	3.8%	2
Total Property Crimes	3,967	3,620	9.6%	347

Legacy SRS Reporting Categories	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020
Property Crimes
Burglary/Breaking & Entering	424	450	538	428	638
Larceny/Theft Offenses	2,769	2,459	2,482	2,538	2,907
Motor Vehicle Theft	720	659	610	461	778
Arson	54	52	59	68	42
Total Property Crimes	3,967	3,620	3,689	3,495	4,365

Property crime decreased by 5.8% in Burglary / Breaking and Entering. Larceny / Theft Offenses increased by 12.6%; however, these offenses remain 7.3% lower than the pre-pandemic year of 2019, when 2,987 crimes were reported. Motor vehicle theft increased by 9.3%. Of the reported 720 motor vehicle thefts, 22.2% were preventable thefts.

For a more in-depth look at Oxnard’s reported crime data for 2024, please see the supplemental report linked below.

2024 NIBRS Press Release Supplement

DATE / TIME PREPARED: March 7, 2025, 2:00 PM

DATE: March 7, 2025

SUBJECT: Firearm Arrest
SUSPECTS: Isaac Martinez, 24 year old Oxnard Resident

LOCATION: Gonzales Rd / Oxnard Blvd, Oxnard

CONTACT: Mike Wood, Sergeant

(805) 385-7600 (Thur-Sat 6PM-630AM) | [email protected]

On March 6, 2025, at about 11:14 p.m., an Oxnard Police officer contacted a motorist for a vehicle code violation in the area of Oxnard Blvd and Gonzales Rd. During a search of a vehicle, the driver, 24-year-old Isaac Martinez, was found to be in possession of a loaded .380 handgun. Martinez was arrested for various violations including being a prohibited person in possession of a loaded firearm.

NEWS RELEASE

DATE: March 4, 2025

SUBJECT: Three Shooting Victims

LOCATION: 300 Block W Clara St, Oxnard

VICTIMS: 19-Year-Old Male, Two 15-Year-Old Males, Oxnard Residents

SUSPECTS: Unknown

CONTACT: Detective Jared Schacher

(805) 385-8287 (Tues-Fri 7:00 AM-5:00 PM)

[email protected]

On March 4, 2025, at approximately 7:00 PM, officers from the Oxnard Police Department responded to Southwinds Park in the 300 block of West Clara Street regarding a subject who reported being shot. Upon arrival, officers located the subject, a 19-year-old male, suffering from a single gunshot wound to the leg.

The subject informed officers that there was an additional shooting victim in the north alley of Cuesta Del Mar. Officers searched the area and located two 15-year-old males who had been shot multiple times.

All three victims were treated for their injuries at the scene and were transported to area hospitals with non-life-threatening injuries.

Officers located evidence of the shooting at the scene. The motive for the shooting remains unknown at this time.

Investigators from the Oxnard Police Department's Violent Crimes Unit responded and assumed responsibility for the investigation.

If you have any information regarding this case, please contact Detective Jared Schacher at 805-385-8287 or by email at [email protected].

Also, anyone with information regarding this case or other criminal activity is encouraged to contact the Oxnard Police Department at (805) 385-7755 or via the Department's website: www.oxnardpd.org and click Report Suspicious Activity. You can remain anonymous if you choose to. You can also remain anonymous by calling Ventura County Crime Stoppers at 1 (800) 222-8477 or visiting www.venturacountycrimestoppers.org to submit a tip via text or email.

*UPDATED* NEWS RELEASE

DATE: March 2, 2025

SUBJECT: Fatal Traffic Collision

LOCATION: 1600 block East Gonzales Road, Oxnard

VICTIM: Leo Hendricks, 77 year-old City of Ventura resident

DRIVER: Martin Mercado, 61 year-old, City of Oxnard resident

VEHICLE: Burgundy, Nissan Sentra

CONTACT: Alvaro Pulido, Traffic Coordinator

(805) 385-7749 | [email protected]

(Monday to Thursday 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.)

Update to News Release:

On March 4, 2025, the Oxnard Police Department received notification that the pedestrian in this collision died this afternoon at the Ventura County Medical Center. The pedestrian has been identified as Leo Hendricks, a 77-year-old resident of the City of Ventura.

Anyone who has information regarding this collision is urged to contact Traffic Coordinator Alvaro Pulido at (805) 385-7749 or via email [email protected].

______________________________________________________________

On March 2, 2025, at approximately 9:30 p.m., officers from the Oxnard Police Department and EMS personnel responded to the area of Gonzales Road and Rose Avenue in reference to an injury collision between a vehicle and a pedestrian.

Upon arrival, officers discovered that a burgundy Nissan Sentra had struck an unidentified adult male pedestrian who sustained significant injuries as a result of the collision. The collision scene was in the 1600 block of East Gonzales Road near the entrance to the Rose Ranch Shopping Center located on the south west corner of Rose Avenue and Gonzales Road. The pedestrian was transported from the scene to the Ventura County Medical Center where he remains in critical condition.

Traffic investigators responded to the scene and assisted with the investigation. Preliminary investigation indicates that the Nissan, driven by Mercado, was traveling eastbound on Gonzales Road towards Rose Avenue and collided with the pedestrian who was crossing the roadway outside of a marked crosswalk. Driver Mercado remained on scene and was contacted by responding officers. Excessive speed and impairment by alcohol and/or drugs do not appear to be contributing factors associated with the Nissan or Driver Mercado. The investigation is continuing.

Anyone who has information regarding this collision is urged to contact Traffic Coordinator Alvaro Pulido at (805) 385-7749 or via email [email protected].

UPDATED NEWS RELEASE

DATE: March 3, 2025

SUBJECT: Missing Adult Found Deceased

LOCATION: 4300 Tradewinds Drive, Oxnard

VICTIM: Brigitte Whitehead, 60-year-old Oxnard resident

CONTACT: Jose Diaz, Sergeant

(805) 385-7756 | [email protected]

Monday to Thursday, 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.

On March 3, 2025, at approximately 0940 hours, officers located Brigitte Whitehead, found deceased, near the 4300 block of Tradewinds Drive. Brigitte’s family has been notified of the sorrowful news. The Oxnard Police Department and Ventura County Medical Examiner’s Office are conducting a thorough investigation. However, investigators do not suspect any foul play at this time.

Anyone who has information regarding this case is urged to contact Sergeant Jose Diaz at (805) 385-7756 or via email at [email protected]. Also, anyone with information regarding the case can contact the Oxnard Police Department at (805) 385-7600.

If the inquiry is outside of the Investigator’s standard business hours, we encourage the use of the Investigator’s email. We have found that an email message with a callback request is a more effective way to reach the Investigator. Our watch commanders will continue to speak to those incidents that center around field operations, and still can be reached at (805) 385-7746 or (805) 385-7778.

DATE: March 2, 2025, 4:30 p.m.

SUBJECT: Missing Adult

LOCATION: 4300 Tradewinds Drive, Oxnard

MISSING PERSON: Brigitte Whitehead, 60-year-old Oxnard Resident

CONTACT: Greg Harasymowycz, Commander (Sunday – Wednesday, 6 a.m. – 4 p.m.)

(805) 385-7650 | gr[email protected]

The Oxnard Police Department wants the community to help find a missing adult. Brigitte Whitehead is a 60-year-old female, 5'3", 150 lbs., with brown hair and brown eyes. She was last seen on foot near 4300 Tradewinds Drive, Oxnard today (3/2/25) at approximately 7:00 a.m. It is unknown what Whitehead was wearing or carrying.

The Oxnard Police Department is asking the public to help find Ms. Whitehead. If you have any information about her whereabouts, we ask that you contact the Oxnard Police Department dispatch as soon as you can at (805) 385-7740.

Greg Harasymowycz

Commander

Oxnard Police Department

[email protected]

(805) 385-7600 Work Phone

Sunday-Wednesday (0600-1600 hours)

NEWS RELEASE

DATE: March 2, 2025

SUBJECT: Pedestrian in Critical Condition After Struck by Vehicle

LOCATION: 1600 block East Gonzales Road, Oxnard

VICTIM: Unidentified adult male

DRIVER: Martin Mercado, 61 year-old, City of Oxnard resident

VEHICLE: Burgundy, Nissan Sentra

CONTACT: Alvaro Pulido, Traffic Coordinator

(805) 385-7749 | [email protected]

(Monday to Thursday 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.)

Anyone who has information regarding this collision is urged to contact Traffic Coordinator Alvaro Pulido at (805) 385-7749 or via email [email protected]

NEWS RELEASE

DATE: March 01, 2025

SUBJECT: Minor Decoy Tobacco Operation

LOCATION: Citywide, Oxnard

SUSPECT: Tobacco Retail Outlets

CONTACT: Steven Ramirez II, Corporal

(805)385-3920 (Mon-Thurs 8am-6pm) | [email protected]

Oxnard Store Clerk Cited for Selling Tobacco Products to Minor Decoy

On March 01, 2025, officers from the Oxnard Police Department conducted tobacco decoy stings using an underage decoy to purchase tobacco products at retail establishments, in the city of Oxnard. During the operation eight businesses were visited and one of the store clerks sold the minor decoy tobacco products.

The goal of the operation is to limit underage access to tobacco products and confirm businesses are operating within the law. California Penal Code Section 308(a) prohibits the sale of tobacco and tobacco paraphernalia, including electronic cigarettes, to persons under the age of 21. Clerks who sell to an underage decoy face a minimum fine of $200 for a first offense, it becomes a $500 fine for a second offense, and $1,000 for a third offense.

A minor decoy operation involves a person under the age of 21 years old who enters establishments and attempts to purchase tobacco. The minor decoy appears young, provides identification when asked, and makes no attempts to mislead the seller. The decoy is supervised by peace officers during the entire process.

The Tobacco Compliance Inspections funded by the California Department of Justice. Funding for the Tobacco Grant Program was a result of the passage of the California Healthcare, Research and Prevention Tobacco Tax Act of 2016 (Prop. 56) increasing taxes on cigarettes and other tobacco products by $2.00 starting in April 2017. The initiative allocates a portion of annual revenue to the California Department of Justice. https://oag.ca.gov/tobaccogrants.

DATE / TIME PREPARED: March 01, 2025 / 15:00 p.m.

NEWS RELEASE

DATE: February 27, 2025 (9:25 p.m.)

SUBJECT: Foot Patrol Regarding Gang Activity Results in Firearm Arrest

SUSPECTS: Moises Garcia, 36-Year-old Oxnard Resident

LOCATION: 2600 blk. El Dorado Ave., Oxnard

CONTACT: Bakari Myers, Sergeant

(805) 797-6202 | [email protected]

On February 27, at approximately 9:25 p.m., officers from the Oxnard Special Enforcement Unit (Gang Unit) conducted a foot patrol in the 2600 blk. of El Dorado Ave. regarding complaints of gang activity. During the foot patrol officers located documented criminal street gang members drinking alcoholic beverages in public.

One of the subjects, Moises Garcia, attempted to leave but was detained by the officers. During Garcia’s detention officers discovered that Garcia was in possession of a loaded, unregistered handgun. Garcia was arrested for the violation, and the remaining subjects were cited for drinking in public.

The Oxnard Special Enforcement Unit is committed to reducing gang crimes and gun violence in the City of Oxnard through the strict enforcement of laws specifically targeting known, active gang members residing in the city. Anyone with information regarding this case or other criminal activity is encouraged to contact the Oxnard Police Department at (805) 385-7600, or online via the Oxnard Police Department’s website: www.oxnardpd.org, and clicking on Report Suspicious Activity. You can remain anonymous if you choose to do so. You can remain anonymous by calling the Ventura County Crime Stoppers at (800) 222-8477. You can also visit this site: www.venturacountycrimestoppers.org to submit a tip via text or email.