DETAILS:

On August 7, 2018 at 7:08 PM Oxnard Police Department officers responded to reports of a subject down and possible gunfire on Camino Del Sol at Rice Avenue.  Officers arrived and located one male subject down in the street.  Emergency personnel attended to the victim and pronounced him at the scene.

Officers are continuing their investigation on Camino Del Sol between Maulhardt Avenue and Rice Avenue.  This section of Camino Del Sol will be closed until the investigation at the scene is complete.

If anyone has any information regarding this incident, they are encouraged to call the Oxnard Police Department or Ventura County Crime Stoppers, 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).

DATE / TIME PREPARED:  August 7, 2018 @ 7:43 PM

NEWS RELEASE

  DETAILS: 

The Oxnard Police Department would like to increase the public’s awareness of a “kidnapping” scam that is occurring and is designed to extort money.

On August 1, 2018, a kidnapping scam occurred in Oxnard. The victim received a call on her cell phone from an unknown telephone number and heard a hysterical female screaming that she had been in a traffic accident. The victim was convinced the voice was her daughter’s voice. A male subject then got on the phone and said that her daughter was being held against her will and demanded a wire transfer of money to gain her release.  The man demanded the victim remain on the cell phone and drive to a local Walmart where the victim was instructed to wire money to Mexico. The man continued to threaten harm to the victim’s daughter to prevent the victim from alerting the police. The man demanded that several wire transfers be made from various stores in increments of less than $1000 to avoid suspicion. Officers actively investigated the matter as a possible kidnapping and eventually located a family member of the victim at a local Walmart, as she was in the process of wiring additional funds to the purported kidnappers, at which time it was discovered that it was a hoax.

The Oxnard Police Department would like to remind everyone to be suspicious of any telephone call where the caller imposes a problem or crisis and the only solution is electronically transferring money or purchasing prepaid gift cards. If you receive a suspicious phone call of this nature, you are encouraged to report it to law enforcement. These fraudulent schemes can be prevented by remaining well informed, so please share this information with your friends, family, and neighbors.

The FBI provides the following prevention tips:

To avoid becoming a victim of this extortion scheme, look for the following possible indicators:

• Incoming calls come from an outside area code
• Calls do not come from the injured or kidnapped victim’s phone
• Callers go to great lengths to keep you on the phone
• Callers prevent you from calling or locating the “kidnapped” victim
• Ransom money is only accepted via wire transfer service

If you receive a phone call from someone who demands payment of a ransom for a kidnapped victim, the following should be considered:

• Try to slow the situation down. Request to speak to the victim directly. Ask, “How do I know my loved one is okay?”
• If they don’t let you speak to the victim, ask them to describe the victim or describe the vehicle they drive, if applicable.
• Listen carefully to the voice of the kidnapped victim if they speak.
• Attempt to call, text, or contact the victim via social media. Request that the victim call back from his or her cell phone.
• While staying on the line with alleged kidnappers, try to call the alleged kidnap victim from another phone.
• To buy time, repeat the caller’s request and tell them you are writing down the demand, or tell the caller you need time to get things moving.
• Don’t directly challenge or argue with the caller. Keep your voice low and steady.
• Request the kidnapped victim call back from his/her cell phone.

  DATE / TIME PREPARED:  8/1/18, 10:30 p.m.

NEWS RELEASE

DETAILS:

On the above date and time officers responded to Circle K Convenient Store located at 1954 N Ventura Road, in reference to a robbery that just occurred. Detectives reviewed video evidence which showed suspect Ramos entering the business and having an altercation with the store employee.  During the altercation, the employee was stabbed and Ramos ultimately stole merchandise and fled the business.

On August 1, 2018 Ramos was located sleeping in a vehicle in the 1200 Block of Hibiscus Street where she was arrested for the Robbery and Assault with a Deadly Weapon.

Detectives are requesting anyone who might have witnessed the incident to contact Detective Michael Velasquez (805)385-8287 michael.velasquez@oxnardpd.org

Detectives are also encouraging anyone who video recorded or photographed all or part of the incident to upload your media directly to detectives via the following link: https://oxnardpd.evidence.com/axon/citizen/public/1301venturablvd

DATE / TIME PREPARED: August 01, 2018, at 10:08 p.m.

NEWS RELEASE

DETAILS:

On August 1, 2018, at 4:52 p.m., Oxnard Police Department officers responded to the 100 block of W. Esplanade Drive to investigate reports of a subject disturbing juveniles.  When officers arrived, suspect Rafael Lopez fled on foot into a nearby parking lot and attempted to force his way into a vehicle occupied by adults and children.  The family in the vehicle fought off Lopez and he fled again.  As officers continued to chase Lopez, several witnesses reported that he had a gun.  Lopez hid between parked cars but was tackled to the ground by an adult female Good Samaritan.  At this time, Lopez dropped a semi-automatic handgun and the Good Samaritan detained Lopez until officers arrived.

After Lopez was taken into custody, the original juvenile victims reported that Lopez brandished a firearm at them while using racial slurs. Due to Lopez’s prior convictions, he is prohibited from possessing a firearm.  He was arrested for a hate crime, several firearm-related offenses, brandishing a firearm, and delaying a peace officer.

At this point, officers have been unable to locate the family and vehicle that Lopez entered while fleeing from officers. The Oxnard Police Department would like to speak with the occupants of that vehicle as well as anyone with information related to this incident. They are asked to call the Oxnard Police Department or Ventura County Crime Stoppers, 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).

DATE / TIME PREPARED:  August 1, 2018 @ 9:00 PM