OXNARD POLICE DEPARTMENT

NEWS RELEASE

INCIDENT:	Prohibited Person/Documented Gang Member Arrested for Felony Firearms Possession
DATE/TIME:	September 27, 2019 / 8:40 p.m.
LOCATION:	5100 blk. Squires Dr., Oxnard
VICTIM(S):	State of California
SUSPECT(S):	Miguel Garcia, 24-year-old, Oxnard resident
PREPARED BY:	Bakari Myers, Sergeant [email protected] 805-385-7771
CONTACT PERSON AND CONTACT INFO:	Christopher Williams, Commander [email protected] 805-207-7234

DETAILS:

On September 27, at approximately 8:40 p.m., officers from the Special Enforcement Unit (gang unit) observed a subject walking in traffic near the intersection of Pleasant Valley Rd. and Squires Dr. The officers contacted the subject, later identified as Miguel Garcia, because of the traffic hazard Garcia was creating. During their contact with Garcia, the officers learned that Garcia was in possession of a loaded handgun that was concealed on his person.

A records check on Garcia revealed that Garcia was not allowed to possess ammunition or firearms due a specified misdemeanor conviction (a prior brandishing of a weapon). Upon further inspection of the handgun, officers noted that the serial number had been obliterated. Garcia was arrested for multiple felony firearms violations.

The Oxnard Police Department’s 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.

DATE / TIME PREPARED: September 27, 2019 / 2215 hours

OXNARD POLICE DEPARTMENT

NEWS RELEASE

INCIDENT:	Search Warrant/ Attempted Murder Suspects Arrested
DATE/TIME:	September 20, 2019 5:00 AM
LOCATION:	1000 Block South “N” Street 1200 Block West Gonzales Road 4600 Block Concord Way 700 Block West Guava Street
SUSPECT(S):	Jose Varela, 26-Year-Old Oxnard Resident Joseph Tamayo 23-Year-Old Oxnard Resident Victor Aguiar 25-Year-Old Oxnard Resident 16-Year-Old Oxnard Resident
PREPARED BY:	Mike Johnson, Sergeant [email protected] (805) 486-6211
CONTACT PERSON AND CONTACT INFO:	Carey Everhart, Detective [email protected] (805) 486-6228

DETAILS:

On September 3, 2019, at approximately 6:44 P.M., officers from the Oxnard Police Department were dispatched to the parking lot of the Tresierra’s Market, located at 133 West Pleasant Valley Road, reference a fight in the parking lot. Officers arrived on scene however all parties were gone. A 27 year old male victim later showed up at a local area hospital with multiple stab wounds. After being admitted, the victim’s injuries were found to be life threatening and he was transferred to the Intensive Care Unit.

Investigators from the Violent Crimes Unit responded to the scene and hospital to assume control of the investigation. It was determined that a group of male suspects confronted the victim and assaulted him. When the victim attempted to flee, the suspects chased the victim, surrounded him, and continued to assault him. During the second assault, the victim was stabbed. The suspects then fled the scene. Early in the investigation, it was determined that the suspects were associated with an Oxnard based criminal street gang and the stabbing was gang motivated. Over the course of several weeks, investigators worked diligently to identify those responsible for the stabbing.

During the morning of September 20, 2019, members of the Oxnard Police Department, with the assistance of the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office, served a multi-location search warrant in the City of Oxnard targeting those responsible for the assault. Investigators arrested a 16 year old Oxnard resident and Joseph Tamayo, a 23 year old Oxnard resident, at their residences. The juvenile was later booked into Juvenile Hall and Tamayo was booked into the Ventura County Jail. Two addition suspects, Jose Varela, a 26 year old Oxnard resident, and Victor Aguiar, a 25 year old Oxnard resident, were not located and remained at large.

On September 26, 2019, investigators from the Violent Crimes Unit located Varela walking in the 6600 block of Telephone Road in the City of Ventura. Investigators contacted Varela and took him into custody for his role in the assault. He was later booked into the Ventura County Jail. All three suspects were charged with attempted murder and street terrorism (gang enhancement).

Aguiar is still at large and has not been located. If you have any information regarding his whereabouts, please contact Detective Carey Everhart immediately at (805) 486-6288. The following paragraph lists several ways to contact the Oxnard Police Department and remain anonymous if you wish to.

The Oxnard Police Department’s Violent Crimes 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 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 also 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.

Victor Aguiar

OXNARD POLICE DEPARTMENT

NEWS RELEASE

INCIDENT:	DUI/Driver’s License Checkpoint Results
DATE/TIME:	September 20, 2019 8:00 p.m. to 3:00 a.m.
LOCATION:	City of Oxnard
PREPARED BY:	Ricardo Vazquez, Sergeant
CONTACT PERSON AND CONTACT INFO:	Jamie Brown, Senior Officer (805) 385-7749 [email protected]

DETAILS:

DUI Checkpoint nets one DUI arrest

The Oxnard Police Department Traffic Unit arrested one impaired driver while conducting a DUI/Driver’s license checkpoint on September 20, 2019. The checkpoint was conducted on Oxnard Boulevard south of Vineyard Avenue between the hours of 8:00 p.m. and 3:00 a.m., resulting in the following:

460 vehicles screened
One DUI-alcohol suspect arrested
17 drivers cited for operating a vehicle unlicensed or while suspended/revoked
31 citations issued

Checkpoints are placed in locations that have the greatest opportunity for achieving drunk and drugged driving deterrence and provide the greatest safety for officers and the public.

In recent years, California has seen a disturbing increase in drug-impaired driving crashes. Oxnard PD supports the new effort from the Office of Traffic Safety that aims to educate all drivers that “DUI Doesn’t Just Mean Booze.” If you take prescription drugs, particularly those with a driving or operating machinery warning on the label, you might be impaired enough to get a DUI. Marijuana can also be impairing, especially in combination with alcohol or other drugs, and can result in a DUI.

Studies of California drivers have shown that 30 percent of drivers in fatal crashes had one or more drugs in their systems. A study of active drivers showed more tested positive for drugs that may impair driving (14 percent) than did for alcohol (7.3 percent). Of the drugs, marijuana was most prevalent, at 7.4 percent, slightly more than alcohol.

Oxnard PD offers these reminders to ensure a fun night doesn’t get spoiled with a DUI:

Decide before you go out whether you plan to drink or drive. You can’t do both.
If you plan to drink, designate a sober driver before going out, or map out another way to get home safely by taking a cab, ride-share services like Uber or Lyft, or using public transportation. You can also lookup designated driver services in your area using the National Directory of Designated Driver Services (NDDDS).
If you are a designated driver, bars and restaurants statewide have created non-alcoholic specialty drinks (“DDrinks”) for sober drivers: http://bit.ly/OTSDDrinks
If you happen to see a drunk driver on the road, call 911. Offer a description of the vehicle, location, and direction of travel.
See your friend or other patron impaired trying to get behind the wheel? Take the keys or help them make other arrangements to get where they are going safely.

Drivers caught driving impaired and charged with DUI can expect the impact of a DUI arrest to be approximately $13,500. This includes fines, fees, DUI classes, license suspension, and other expenses not to mention possible jail time.

The checkpoint was funded by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Whether by bike, car, motorcycle, or walking, the Oxnard Police Department encourages everyone to be a part of the solution and ‘Go Safely California.’

DATE / TIME PREPARED: September 21, 2019 / 3:30 a.m.

OXNARD POLICE DEPARTMENT

NEWS RELEASE

INCIDENT:	DUI/Driver’s License Checkpoint
DATE/TIME:	September 20, 2019 8:00 p.m. to 3:00 a.m.
PREPARED BY:	Ricardo Vazquez, Sergeant
CONTACT PERSON AND CONTACT INFO:	Jamie Brown, Senior Officer (805) 385-7749 [email protected]

DETAILS:

Oxnard Police Department to hold DUI and Driver’s License Checkpoint

The Oxnard Police Department will hold a DUI/Driver’s License Checkpoint on Friday, September 20, 2019, at an undisclosed location within the city limits between the hours of 8:00 p.m. to 3:00 a.m. DUI checkpoints are done in locations with a higher frequency of DUI-related collisions and arrests. During the checkpoint, officers will be looking for signs of alcohol and/or drug impairment, with officers checking drivers for proper licensing.

The Oxnard Police Department reminds drivers that “DUI Doesn’t Just Mean Booze.” If you take prescription drugs, particularly those with a driving or operating machinery warning on the label, you might be impaired enough to get a DUI. Marijuana can also be impairing, especially in combination with alcohol or other drugs, and can result in a DUI.

The Oxnard Police Department offers these tips to ensure you have a safe night of fun that doesn’t involve a DUI:

Always use a designated sober driver – a friend who is not drinking, ride-share, cab or public transportation – to get home.
See someone who is clearly impaired try and drive? Take the keys and help them make other arrangements to find a sober way home.
Report drunk drivers – Call 911.
Hosting a party? Offer nonalcoholic drinks. Monitor who is drinking and how they are getting home.

Drivers caught driving impaired and charged with DUI can expect the impact of a DUI arrest to be upwards of $13,500. This includes fines, fees, DUI classes, license suspension, and other expenses not to mention possible jail time.

Funding for these enforcement efforts are provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

DATE / TIME PREPARED: September 19, 2019 / 11:00 a.m.

OXNARD POLICE DEPARTMENT

NEWS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: September 16, 2019

NEWS MEDIA CONTACT:

Melissa Valdez, Community Affairs Manager

[email protected] (805) 324-8292

OXNARD POLICE FOCUS ON GUN OFFENDERS

Oxnard, CA – A promising trend has emerged in Oxnard as the latest Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) data indicate significantly reduced violent crime throughout the city. This continues a downward trend that began in 2017 and has continued through the first eight months of 2019. Through August 31st, the total number of reported violent crimes in Oxnard dropped by 14.9% compared to the first eight months of 2018. Oxnard has experienced a 25% reduction in homicides, a 21.1% reduction in robberies, and a 9.2% reduction in aggravated assaults.

“As we developed our 2019 department goals, we put a priority on continuing the three year reduction in crime,” said Chief of Police Scott Whitney, “Reducing violent crime will always be our highest priority and we will always look for new approaches, new strategies, and new partners to make our city safer.”

One of the innovative strategies implemented in Oxnard has been a partnership with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Ventura County Sheriff’s Department. The Oxnard Police Department has teamed with these two agencies to arrest violent offenders that have an extensive criminal history and continue to commit violent crimes in the City. Since the task force formed, eight (8) violent offenders have been arrested and sentenced to federal prison.

In some cases, defendants have been subject to enhanced sentencing for various circumstances including being a prohibited person and possessing three or more firearms, possessing a modified weapon, possessing a high-capacity magazine, or having fired the weapon.

Several individual cases are listed below:

Gilberto Aldana was arrested on September 12, 2017, and indicted by a federal grand jury on October 24, 2017. Aldana pleaded guilty on August 13, 2018, and was sentenced on October 29, 2018, to 92 months in prison.
Camilo Flores was arrested on November 7, 2017, and indicted by a federal grand jury on December 15, 2017. Flores pleaded guilty on September 6, 2018, and was sentenced on December 20, 2018, to thirty months in prison.
Joey Ixta was arrested on March 12, 2017, and indicted by a federal grand jury on May 5, 2017. Ixta pleaded guilty on February 12, 2018, and was sentenced on May 21, 2018, to 37 months in prison.
George Glass was arrested on January 22, 2018, and indicted by a federal grand jury on February 16, 2018. Glass pleaded guilty on December 11, 2018, and was sentenced on 02/20/2019 to sixty months in federal prison.
Sergio Zendejas was arrested on March 17, 2017, and was indicted by a federal grand jury on April 25, 2017. Zendejas pleaded guilty on July 24, 2017, and was sentenced on October 16, 2017, to 26 months in prison.
Manuel Rivas was arrested on October 24, 2017, and plead guilty on January 22, 2018. He was sentenced on February 9, 2018, to 26 months in prison.
Jose Viveros was arrested on November 6, 2018, and was indicted by a federal grand jury on November 20, 2018. Viveros was denied bail and is being held in federal custody awaiting trial.
Steven Gutierrez was arrested on November 19, 2018, and plead guilty on April 1, 2019. He was sentenced on July 15, 2019, to 24 months in prison.

Many of the defendants are documented gang members that have a history of violent crime in Oxnard. Comments from Chief Whitney include, “There are only a small number of people in any community willing to commit violent crime. When we identify, arrest and incarcerate these prolific, violent offenders we often see an immediate reduction in serious crime. It makes the city safer for everyone. ”

Chief Whitney added, “Much credit goes to our officers, detectives and crime analysts that track these offenders. They quickly respond to the information we receive and to crime trends they identify. These gun arrests don’t happen by accident. They’re the result of good work, hard work, and teamwork. Our partners at the FBI and the Ventura County Sheriff’s Department have been outstanding.”

One of the strategies the Police Department is implementing is based on the concept of Intelligence-Led Policing. The idea behind Intelligence-Led Policing is to gather information from both recent and historical crime trends as well as other various sources (community members, social media, officers, etc.). With that information, the Department can more efficiently direct resources to where it believes crime will take place. The Department is also able to direct resources to address the most serious offenders and disrupt their criminal activity. This program has shown great results in 2019; particularly with our Special Enforcement Unit (SEU). Through the first eight months of 2019, the SEU has recovered over 40 illegal firearms.

Community partnerships are also a vital component to the success of Intelligence-Led Policing. Residents who observe suspicious activity, know of criminal activity taking place, and who share that information with the police help to curb that criminal behavior and remove it from their neighborhoods. It also allows the residents to take ownership of their communities and it sends a powerful message to the criminal element that illegal activity won’t be tolerated in their neighborhoods.

As the Police Department was preparing this press release, there was a homicide on Saturday night, September 14, 2019, in south Oxnard.

Comments from Chief Whitney regarding that homicide include:

“It breaks our hearts and sickens our stomachs when a 17-year-old boy gets shot and killed. While we’re confident that we will make arrests in this case, we do need help from our community. There were witnesses to this incident that need to come forward.

More broadly, if you know someone in possession of a firearm that is involved in violent crime, please share that information with us. Looking the other way or seeking street justice doesn’t work. Too many innocent people get hurt.

Our family members and community leaders must talk to the young men in their neighborhoods to stop this type of violence. What drives much of it is retaliation and perceptions of being disrespected. For our neighborhoods to be safer for our young men, this needs to stop.”

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 also 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.

###

OXNARD POLICE DEPARTMENT

NEWS RELEASE

INCIDENT:	Firearm Arrest
DATE/TIME:	09/15/2019; 3:00PM
LOCATION:	Gary Dr and Rose Ave, Oxnard
SUSPECT(S):	Oscar Perez Cruz, 20 year old Oxnard resident
PREPARED BY:	Scott Coe, Sergeant
CONTACT PERSON AND CONTACT INFO:	Luis McArthur, Commander 805-385-7746 [email protected]

DETAILS:

On 9/15/19 at around 3:00 PM an Oxnard Police Officer conducted a traffic stop for various vehicle code violations in the area of Gary Dr and Rose Ave in the City of Oxnard. The passenger, Oscar Perez Cruz was found to be in possession of an unloaded and unregistered 9mm semi-automatic firearm. Cruz was arrested for a felony firearm violation.

Anyone with information regarding 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 also 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.

DATE / TIME PREPARED: 9/15/2019, 5:15 p.m.

OXNARD POLICE DEPARTMENT

NEWS RELEASE

INCIDENT:	Juvenile Killed in Oxnard
DATE/TIME:	September 14, 2019, 10:47 P.M.
LOCATION:	1700 block of Elsinore Circle, Oxnard
VICTIM(S):	Hispanic Male, Juvenile
SUSPECT(S):	Unknown
PREPARED BY:	Sergeant Scott Aaron (805) 385-7763 [email protected]
FOLLOW UP CONTACT PERSON AND CONTACT INFO:	Sergeant Scott Aaron (805) 385-7763 [email protected] Commander Sharon Giles (805) 385-7620 [email protected]

DETAILS:

On September 14, 2019, at about 10:45 P.M., patrol officers from the Oxnard Police Department along with Emergency Medical Services (EMS) responded to the 1700 block of Elsinore Circle for a reported shooting victim. When officers arrived, they located a Hispanic male juvenile suffering from a gunshot wound. EMS transported him by ambulance to the Ventura County Medical Center, but he did not survive his injuries.

Homicide investigators are on scene and the investigation is continuing.

Investigators are encouraging anyone who may have video recorded or photographed all or part of the incident, to upload your media directly to the investigators via the following link: https://oxnardpd.evidence.com/axon/citizen/public/1700elsinorecir. All submissions are immediately logged into the Oxnard Police Department’s digital evidence system. Contact information is not stored by Axon and community members can remain anonymous, choosing to upload their files without providing contact information.

The City of Oxnard offers a reward of $10,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of individuals responsible for committing homicides within the City.

Investigators are asking the public to come forward if anyone has witnessed this incident. The public is asked to contact Detective Tenille Chacon (805) 385-7645.

DATE / TIME PREPARED: September 15, 2019, 1:30 A.M.

NEWS RELEASE

INCIDENT:

Possession of a Loaded Firearm

Felon in Possession of a Firearm

Possession of a Controlled Substance with a Firearm

Violently Resisting Officers

DATE/TIME:

9/13/19, 9:04 p.m.

LOCATION:

3500 Las Tunas Place, Oxnard

VICTIM(S):

State of California

SUSPECT(S):

Jose Magallanes, age 34, Ventura resident

PREPARED BY:

Robin Whitney, Patrol Commander

CONTACT PERSON AND CONTACT INFO:

Robin Whitney, Patrol Commander

(805) 385-7771

[email protected]

DETAILS:

On 9/13/19, at about 9:04 p.m., officers attempted to detain suspect Jose Magallanes, age 34, in the 3500 block of Las Tunas Place, for a Vehicle Code violation. Magallanes refused to comply with the officers’ orders to stop and began to flee on his bicycle southbound on Las Tunas Place before falling off of it. Magallanes got back to his feet and began running northbound on Las Tunas Place. As officers pursued Magallanes on foot, he was reaching into his waistband. Officers tackled Magallanes and he continued to physically resist the officers’ efforts to take him into custody. During the physical confrontation with the officers, Magallanes discarded a loaded handgun which was later determined to be stolen. Both officers involved in the physical struggle sustained minor injuries, but did not require hospitalization. Officers subsequently searched Magallanes and located a small quantity of a controlled substance on his person.

Magallanes has a history of violence, is a convicted felon, and is prohibited from possessing a firearm.

Magallanes was charged with the following felony offenses: carrying a loaded firearm in public, felon in possession of a firearm, possession of a controlled substance with a firearm, and violently resisting officers. Additionally, he was arrested for an outstanding misdemeanor warrant.

DATE / TIME PREPARED: 09/14/19, 0130 hours

OXNARD POLICE DEPARTMENT

NEWS RELEASE

INCIDENT:	Fatal Hit-And-Run Traffic Collision
DATE/TIME:	9-11-19 / 11:36 p.m.
LOCATION:	Ventura Rd. @ Juniper St.
VICTIM(S):	Withheld pending notification to family
SUSPECT VEHICLE(S):	Dark-colored SUV
PREPARED BY:	Tim Kelley, Sergeant
CONTACT PERSON AND CONTACT INFO:	Officer Phil Flores (805)385-7749

DETAILS:

On September 11, 2019, at approximately 11:36 p.m., officers from the Oxnard Police Department and EMS personnel responded to a traffic collision involving a pedestrian on Ventura Rd. near the intersection of Juniper St.

A 37-year-old female was located in the roadway and pronounced deceased at the scene. The name of the pedestrian is being withheld pending notification to the family.

During the investigation, officers determined that the female victim had been walking in the northbound lanes of Ventura Rd. and was struck by a dark-colored SUV. After hitting the victim, the driver of the SUV fled.

According to witnesses, the victim may have been struck by several additional vehicles, all of which fled the scene.

It is unknown whether alcohol or drugs were involved in the collision and the investigation is ongoing.

Anyone that may have witnessed the collision is asked to contact Officer Phil Flores (805) 385-7749 [email protected].

DATE / TIME PREPARED:

9-12-19 / 4:30 a.m.

/32881-2/

OXNARD POLICE DEPARTMENT

NEWS RELEASE

INCIDENT:	Stabbing Victim
DATE/TIME:	09/10/2019/6:38PM
LOCATION:	2100 block of Mariposa Street (West Alley), Oxnard
VICTIM(S):	51 Year Old Male, Oxnard Resident
SUSPECT(S):	Unknown
PREPARED BY:	Mike Johnson, Sergeant (805) 486-6211 [email protected]
CONTACT PERSON AND CONTACT INFO:	Ricardo Vega, Detective (805) 385-8291 [email protected]

DETAILS:

On 09/10/2019 at approximately 6:38 p.m., Officers with the Oxnard Police Department were dispatched to the west alley of the 2100 block of Mariposa Street in reference to a stabbing victim. Upon arrival, officers located a 51 year old Oxnard resident who had been stabbed. The victim was transported to a local hospital. His wounds were not life threatening and the investigation is ongoing.

DATE / TIME PREPARED: 09/11/2019, 4:00 a.m