OXNARD POLICE DEPARTMENT

NEWS RELEASE

INCIDENT:	Fatal Traffic Collision
DATE/TIME:	October 2, 2017 / 9:33 a.m.
LOCATION:	1900 block of Eastman Avenue, Oxnard
DRIVERS/VEHICLES:	20-year-old male Oxnard resident (name withheld pending notification to family) – 2014 Ford Festiva Jose Vidal Alfaro, 49-year-old Sylmar, CA resident – 2011 Volvo semi-truck and trailer
PREPARED BY:	Ricardo Vazquez, Traffic Sergeant (805) 385-7847 ricardo.vazquez@oxnardpdorg
CONTACT PERSON AND CONTACT INFO:	Jose Diaz, Traffic Officer (805) 200-5668 [email protected]

DETAILS:

On October 2, 2017, at approximately 9:33 a.m., officers from the Oxnard Police Department and EMS personnel responded to a collision which occurred in the 1900 block of Eastman Avenue. When officers arrived, they discovered that a 2014 Ford Festiva, driven by a 20-year-old male Oxnard resident, had collided with a semi-truck and trailer. The driver of the Festiva was immediately transported to the Ventura County Medical Center due to critical injuries. Despite receiving medical treatment, the driver of the Festiva succumbed to his injuries. The driver of the semi-truck, identified as Jose Vidal Alfaro of Sylmar, was also transported to the hospital but was released after receiving treatment due to minor injuries.

Based on the initial investigation, it was determined that the driver of the Ford Festiva was traveling westbound on Eastman Avenue at a high rate of speed. The vehicle then veered into the eastbound lanes and collided with the semi-truck and trailer which was traveling eastbound on Eastman Avenue.

Speed is a contributing factor to the collision; however it is unknown at this time if alcohol or drugs were involved. The collision is still under investigation. Anyone who has information about this collision is urged to contact Officer Jose Diaz at (805) 200-5668 or via email at [email protected].

DATE / TIME PREPARED: October 2, 2017 / 3:30 p.m.

INCIDENT:	Assault with a Deadly Weapon
DATE/TIME:	September 29, 2017, 5:45 p.m.
LOCATION:	300 Hundred block Cuesta Del Mar, Oxnard
VICTIM(S):	19 year old male, Oxnard resident
SUSPECT(S):	Male Juvenile
PREPARED BY:	Brett A. Smith, Sergeant [email protected], 805-486-6211
CONTACT PERSON AND CONTACT INFO:	Senior Officer Scott Coe [email protected] 805-385-7796

DETAILS:

On September 29, 2017, at approximately 5:45 p.m., Officers from the Oxnard Police Department responded to shots fired in the 300 block of Cuesta Del Mar, Oxnard. Officers located the intended victim, who was not injured during the gun fire. Officers learned the victim had arrived home and was parking his vehicle when he was assaulted by two male subjects. The two subjects ran after the victim, and one of the subjects began shooting at the victim as the victim entered his home. Two of the victim’s children were at the threshold of the front door, but were not injured by bullets that entered the home.

The Oxnard Violent Crimes Unit (VCU) responded to the incident. Investigators continued to investigate the shooting and were able to identify the juvenile who shot at the victim. The juvenile was arrested and charged with, Assault with a deadly weapon, Child endangerment likely to cause great bodily injury, and discharging a firearm at an inhabited dwelling. The Juvenile was subsequently lodged at the Juvenile Justice Complex.

If anyone has further information, they are encouraged to call Detective Scott Coe at (805) 385-7769. If you wish to remain anonymous you may call the violent crimes hotline at (805) 982-7070 or 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 30, 2017, 3:00 a.m.

OXNARD POLICE DEPARTMENT

NEWS RELEASE

INCIDENT:	Oxnard Police Officer Injured in Motorcycle Collision (Follow-up)
DATE/TIME:	September 26, 2017 3:30 PM
LOCATION:	Highway 58, west of Highway 33, Kern County
PREPARED BY:	Assistant Chief Eric S. Sonstegard
CONTACT PERSON AND CONTACT INFO:	Commander Denise Shadinger 805-385-7771 [email protected] Community Affairs Manager Melissa Valdez 805-385-7631 [email protected]

DETAILS: Oxnard Police Officer James Langford, 35 years of age, continues to be treated at Kern Medical Center in Bakersfield after being involved in a single motorcycle collision on Highway 58 in Kern County yesterday afternoon. Officer Langford was on a training ride with other members of the Oxnard Police Department Traffic Unit when he lost control of his motorcycle. Officer Langford was airlifted by Medevac helicopter to a local hospital where he continues to be listed in critical condition. The California Highway Patrol, Buttonwillow Area-Central Division, is conducting an investigation to determine the cause of the collision. No other vehicles were involved.

“The volume of support from the Kern County Sheriff’s Office, Bakersfield Police Department, and the California Highway Patrol has been tremendous,” stated Oxnard Police Chief Scott Whitney. Chief Whitney added, “We have received numerous messages both on social media and in person from members of the Oxnard community just letting us know they’re thinking about James and keeping the entire Oxnard P.D. family in their prayers. Our primary focus now is providing comfort and support to James’ family as well as to the members of the Oxnard Police Department.”

Officer Langford has 12 years of service with the Oxnard Police Department. He has been assigned to the Traffic Unit since December of 2016. He is married and has four (4) children.

Additional information will be released throughout the day as it becomes available.

The California Highway Patrol-Buttonwillow Area Station can be contacted at (661) 764-5580 for further details about the traffic investigation.

DATE / TIME PREPARED: 9/27/2017, 12:00 p.m.

OXNARD POLICE DEPARTMENT

NEWS RELEASE

INCIDENT:	Assault and Firearms Arrest
DATE/TIME:	September 26, 2017 3:40 PM
LOCATION:	100 Block of S. Grant Ave.
SUSPECT:	Margarito Solano, 20 year old Oxnard resident
PREPARED BY:	Commander Mike Adair
CONTACT PERSON AND CONTACT INFO:	Detective Mike Velasquez 805-385-8287; [email protected]

DETAILS: On September 26, 2017 at 3:35 PM the Oxnard Police Department’s Communications Center was contacted by an agent from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to report an incident they had been involved in during their attempt to apprehend a suspect. The ICE agents had just attempted a felony arrest warrant service on Margarito Solano in the 100 block of South Grant Ave. in Oxnard. During the arrest the suspect had driven his vehicle into one of the agent’s vehicle.

When Oxnard police officers arrived on scene, they learned the suspect had already been taken into custody. The initial information from the agents indicated that ICE’s Fugitive Operations Team was in Oxnard looking for Solano who had an active felony warrant and is a documented gang member. The agents located Solano on Grant Ave. and attempted to conduct an enforcement stop on the vehicle he was driving. At that time, Solano sped up and rammed into one of the agent’s vehicles in an attempt to flee. Solano was unable to drive by the agents and was taken into custody without further attempts to resist. The ICE vehicles involved in the enforcement stop were all equipped with red and blue flashing lights which were activated at the time of the stop. A loaded handgun was found in Solano’s pants pocket when he was searched.

Oxnard officers took custody of Solano and he was booked into Ventura County Jail on charges of assault with a deadly weapon and criminal firearms possession. One ICE agent suffered a minor injury when Solano rammed into the agent’s car. Solano struck the vehicle with such force that the vehicle had to be towed from the scene.

The Oxnard Police Department was not involved in the ICE operation. The Oxnard Police Department does not engage in immigration enforcement.

For additional information reference the original ICE operation, please contact the ICE Press Information Officer (PIO), Virginia Kice, at (949) 337-9594.

DATE / TIME PREPARED: 9/27/2017, 7:00 a.m.

OXNARD POLICE DEPARTMENT

NEWS RELEASE

INCIDENT:	Oxnard Police Officer Injured in Motorcycle Collision
DATE/TIME:	September 26, 2017 3:30 PM
LOCATION:	Highway 58, west of Highway 33, Kern County
PREPARED BY:	Commander Denise Shadinger
CONTACT PERSON AND CONTACT INFO:	Commander Denise Shadinger 805-385-7771; [email protected]

DETAILS: On Tuesday, September 26, 2017, at approximately 3:30 p.m., Oxnard Police Officer James Langford was involved in a single motorcycle collision during a training ride on Highway 58 in Kern County. Officer Langford was airlifted by Medevac helicopter to a local hospital where he is currently listed in critical condition. The California Highway Patrol, Buttonwillow Area-Central Division, is conducting an investigation to determine the cause of the collision. No other vehicles were involved.

Officer Langford has 12 years of service with the Oxnard Police Department. He has been assigned to the Traffic Unit since December of 2016.

Additional information will be released throughout the day as it becomes available.

The California Highway Patrol-Buttonwillow Area Station can be contacted at (661) 764-5580 for further details about the traffic investigation.

DATE / TIME PREPARED: 9/26/2017, 11:00 p.m.

INCIDENT:

Gang related firearm arrest

DATE/TIME:

September 21, 2017/10:00 PM

LOCATION:

Entrada Drive and Juego St

SUSPECT(S):

Raymond Rivas, 27 old Oxnard resident

PREPARED BY:

Bill Crisostomo, Sergeant

CONTACT PERSON AND CONTACT INFO:

[email protected]

805-385-8290

DETAILS:

On September 21, 2017 at approximately 10:00 PM officers from the Special Enforcement Unit were conducting uniformed gang enforcement in the East District when they made a traffic stop in the area of Entrada Drive and Juego St regarding a traffic violation. During the stop Raymond Rivas was contacted in the vehicle. Rivas is a documented gang member who has been served with one of the gang injunctions in the city and is on active parole. During a search of the vehicle a loaded semi-automatic handgun was recovered.

Rivas was arrested for violation of parole and booked into county jail. Several weapons related charges are pending further investigation.

The Oxnard Police Department 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. Citizens are reminded to contact the Police Department when they observe suspicious activity or are witnesses to a crime.

DATE / TIME PREPARED: September 21, 2017/10:35 PM

OXNARD POLICE DEPARTMENT

NEWS RELEASE

OXNARD POLICE DEPARTMENT

NEWS RELEASE

INCIDENT:	Vehicle pursuit injures two, driver arrested
DATE/TIME:	September 20, 2017 / 2245 hours
LOCATION:	Oxnard Boulevard and Date Street
VICTIMS:	Male, 11 years, name withheld (Dodge van occupant) Alyssa Rodriguez, 21, Oxnard resident (BMW passenger)
SUSPECT:	Leopoldo Gutierrez, 28 years, Oxnard resident
SUSPECT VEHICLE:	Black, 2007 BMW
PREPARED BY:	Brian Woolley, Sergeant
CONTACT PERSON AND CONTACT INFO:	Brian Woolley, Sergeant (805) 385-7771 [email protected]

DETAILS:

On 9/20/17, at approximately 10:45 p.m., an Oxnard police officer attempted to conduct a traffic stop on a vehicle in the area of Saviers Road and Channel Islands Boulevard for a traffic violation. The vehicle, a black 2007 BMW, failed to stop and a pursuit ensued. During the pursuit, the BMW entered a residential neighborhood and traveled at speeds in excess of 50 MPH. When the vehicle reached the intersection of Date Street and Oxnard Boulevard, it lost control and collided with a parked Dodge van. The BMW fled the scene of this collision and traveled a short distance before becoming disabled in the 1700 block of South Oxnard Boulevard.

The driver of the BMW, Leopoldo Gutierrez, was taken into custody at the conclusion of the pursuit. Alyssa Rodriguez, the passenger in the BMW, sustained minor injuries as a result of the collision. In addition, an 11 year-old boy, who was in the parked Dodge van, sustained minor injuries from the collision. Gutierrez, who was not injured, was arrested and charged with felonious evading and felony hit and run. He was booked into the Ventura County Jail on $100,000 bail.

Anyone with information regarding criminal activity is encouraged to contact the Oxnard Police Department at (805) 385-7600, or you can remain anonymous by calling the Ventura County Crime Stoppers at (800) 222-8477. You can also visit this site http://www.venturacountycrimestoppers.org to submit at tip via text or email.

DATE / TIME PREPARED: September 21, 2017 / 0400 hours

OXNARD POLICE DEPARTMENT

NEWS RELEASE

INCIDENT:	Fatal Traffic Collision
DATE/TIME:	September 18, 2017/ 4:35pm
LOCATION:	Ventura Rd. @ Second St.
VICTIM(S):	23-year-old female Oxnard resident Name withheld pending notification of family
Driver/ vehicle 1:	24-year-old Oxnard resident Red 1991 Acura Integra
Vehicle 2:	79-year-old Santa Paula resident 2017 Lexus GS350
PREPARED BY:	Sergeant Tim Kelley
CONTACT PERSON AND CONTACT INFO:	Officer Manuel Perez (805)385-7750 [email protected]

DETAILS:

On September 18, 2017, at approximately 4:35 pm, officers from the Oxnard Police Department and EMS personnel responded to an injury collision at the intersection of Ventura Rd. and Second St. Based on the preliminary investigation it was determined that a white 2017 Lexus GS 350 driven by a 79-year-old female Santa Paula resident was traveling southbound on Ventura Rd. and attempted to make a left-hand turn onto Second St. The Lexus was struck in the intersection by a red 1991 Acura Integra driven by a 24-year-old male Oxnard resident that was travelling northbound on Ventura Rd. Both drivers were transported to a local area hospital and are in stable condition. A 23-year-old female passenger in the Acura was also transported to the hospital but later succumbed to her injuries. The name of the victim is being withheld pending notification of the family.

It is unknown if alcohol and/or drugs were involved. The collision is still under investigation.

Anyone who has information about the collision is urged to contact Officer Manuel Perez at (805)385-7750 or via email at [email protected]

OXNARD POLICE DEPARTMENT

NEWS RELEASE

INCIDENT:	Gang member arrested for possession of a loaded AR 15 rifle, stolen vehicle, and outstanding felony warrants.
DATE/TIME:	9/17/17 / 5:20 p.m.
LOCATION:	2100 Block of Hughes Dr
VICTIM(S):	State of California
SUSPECT(S):	Brandon Guerra, 33 year old Oxnard resident
PREPARED BY:	Dan Whitmer, Sergeant [email protected] 805-385-7600
CONTACT PERSON AND CONTACT INFO:	Chris Williams, Commander [email protected] 805-385-8290

DETAILS:

On September 17, 2017, at approximately 5 p.m., officers from the Oxnard Police Department Gang Unit (Special Enforcement Unit) were conducting uniform gang enforcement in the 2100 block of Hughes Dr. Officers received a call of suspicious activity at a residence from a concerned citizen in this area. While officers were patrolling the area they noticed a wanted felon who was considered armed and dangerous, in front of his residence.

Officers surrounded the residence and conducted a warrant service for Brandon Guerra. Guerra attempted to run out the back yard and was confronted by additional officers. Guerra ran back inside his residence and then came out to officers at the front door. Guerra was taken into custody and his residence was searched. Guerra is a documented gang member. Guerra was arrested for being in possession of a loaded AR 15 rifle, stolen property, a stolen vehicle, and numerous other firearms related charges.

The Oxnard Police Department Gang Unit (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. Citizens are reminded to contact the Police Department when they observe suspicious activity or are witnesses to a crime.

You can also visit this site http://www.venturacountycrimestoppers.org to submit at tip via text or email.

Brandon Guerra

DATE / TIME PREPARED: 09/17/17 / 1930 hours