NEWS RELEASE

INCIDENT:	Firearm / Narcotics / Gang Injunction Arrest
DATE/TIME:	January 1, 2017 at 11:00 PM
LOCATION:	4400 block of South J Street, Oxnard
SUSPECT(S):	Cesar Reyes 28 years, Oxnard Resident
PREPARED BY:	James Kitka, Officer
CONTACT PERSON AND CONTACT INFO:	James Kitka, Officer (805) 385-7600

DETAILS:

On January 1, 2017, at approximately 11:00 PM, an Oxnard Police Officer conducted a traffic stop in the area of the 4400 block of South J Street.

The officer located a semi-automatic handgun along with ammunition and narcotics inside of the vehicle. The suspect was arrested and charged with numerous firearm, gang injunction, and narcotics violations.

DATE / TIME PREPARED: January 2, 2017 / 0100 hours

OXNARD POLICE DEPARTMENT

NEWS RELEASE

INCIDENT:	Serious Injury Traffic Collision & DUI Arrest
DATE/TIME:	January 1, 2017 at 3:33 AM
LOCATION:	J Street and Pleasant Valley Road
VICTIM:	20-year-old male passenger
SUSPECT:	Daniel Escobedo, 20-year-old Oxnard resident
PREPARED BY:	Sgt. Chris Inglehart
CONTACT PERSON AND CONTACT INFO:	Traffic Officer Tom Martin; (805) 385-7748 or [email protected]

DETAILS:

On 1/1/17 at approximately 0333 hours, Officers from the Oxnard Police Department responded to the intersection of Pleasant Valley Road and J Street to a serious injury traffic collision.

The preliminary investigation revealed that a 2011 BMW was traveling southbound on J Street at Evergreen Lane when it collided with a parked vehicle, causing the right front wheel to be sheared from the vehicle. The BMW continued traveling southbound on J Street. A witness stated the BMW entered the intersection of J Street and Pleasant Valley Road at speeds of approximately 60 MPH. The driver of the BMW lost control of the vehicle, collided with a sign and light pole and then flipped. The vehicle came to rest on the driver’s side, and the occupants had to be extricated by members of the Oxnard City Fire Department.

The driver, Daniel Escobedo, suffered minor injuries. The right front passenger suffered major injuries and was transported to the Ventura County Medical Center, where he is listed in serious condition. Escobedo was subsequently arrested for felony driving while under the influence of alcohol and was booked into the Ventura County Jail.

DATE / TIME PREPARED: 1/1/17 @ 0916 hours

OXNARD POLICE DEPARTMENT

NEWS RELEASE

INCIDENT:	Vehicle Pursuit
DATE/TIME:	12/31/16 at 0142 hours
LOCATION:	“C” and Bard Streets
SUSPECT(S):	Unknown
SUSPECT VEHICLE(S):	Black ’94 BMW
PREPARED BY:	Kevin Baysinger, Commander
CONTACT PERSON AND CONTACT INFO:	Kevin Baysinger (805) 385-7600

DETAILS:

On the above date/time, an officer from the Oxnard Police Department attempted to conduct an enforcement stop on a black ’94 BMW, license 3HPJ526, for vehicle code violations. The vehicle failed to yield and the officer pursued the vehicle northbound on “C” Street.

A short time later the vehicle collided into a residence in the 3400 Block of S. “C” Street. Both occupants of the vehicle fled west on Bryce Canyon. After a search, officers were unable to locate the suspects.

The occupants of the residence were home at the time of the collision but they were not injured. The vehicle collided into a living room wall. The Oxnard Fire department responded to check the structural integrity of the residence.

It is not known why the driver of the BMW fled from officers; the vehicle was not reported as a stolen vehicle. If anyone has any information regarding this incident, they are encouraged to call the Oxnard Police Department at 385-7600.

DATE / TIME PREPARED: December 31, 2016 / 0300 hours

OXNARD POLICE DEPARTMENT

NEWS RELEASE

INCIDENT:	Stabbing
DATE/TIME:	12/25/16, 7:23 p.m.
LOCATION:	Eastwood Park 1451 North F Street, Oxnard
VICTIM(S):	24 year old male, Oxnard resident
SUSPECT(S):	17 year old male, Oxnard resident 16 year old female, Oxnard resident
PREPARED BY:	Sergeant Mike Thomas
CONTACT PERSON & CONTACT INFO:	Detective Scott Coe[email protected] (805) 385-7600

DETAILS:

On 12/25/16 at 7:23 p.m., Officers from the Oxnard Police Department were dispatched to the 700 block of Ivywood Drive reference a stabbing victim. Upon arrival, Officers located a 24 year old male who had multiple stab wounds. The incident occurred near the restrooms at Eastwood Park. Patrol Officers in the area observed two individuals matching the description of the possible suspects.

The possible suspects fled from pursuing Officers, but were captured in the alleyway of 1301 North G Street. The victim positively identified the suspects as being involved in the stabbing. The victim was transported to a local hospital and is listed in stable condition. The suspects were lodged in Juvenile Hall.

If anyone has further information, they are encouraged to call Oxnard PD at (805) 385-7796. 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 http://www.venturacountycrimestoppers.org/contactus.aspx to submit a tip via text or email.

DATE / TIME PREPARED: December 25, 2016 2120 hours

OXNARD POLICE DEPARTMENT

NEWS RELEASE

INCIDENT:	Undercover Theft Operation Vons/Pavillions
DATE/TIME:	12/23/16 1200-2200 hours
LOCATION:	Vons Grocery Store Ventura Road and Fifth Street
VICTIM(S):	Vons/Pavillions
SUSPECT(S):	Robert Jimenez, age 64 Oxnard resident. Vincent Munoz, age 48 Oxnard resident. Enrique Hernandez, age 48, Oxnard resident. Brittany Hedge, age 22 Oxnard resident. Jordan Hernandez, age 27 Oxnard resident. Isaiah Magallon, age 18 Oxnard resident. 16 year old Juvenile, Oxnard resident 17 year old Juvenile, Oxnard resident
PREPARED BY:	Sergeant Jeff McGreevy, Neighborhood Policing Team Supervisor
CONTACT PERSON AND CONTACT INFO:	Sergeant Jeff McGreevy, [email protected]

DETAILS:

The Oxnard Police Department conducted three undercover operations in partnership with Vons / Pavilions loss prevention agents which resulted in 24 arrests over the course of the three separate enforcement operations.

On Friday December 16th, the Seabridge Vons had a $1000.00 theft from one person who ran out with a full cart of merchandise. On Friday December 23, a suspect stole $1000.00 worth of merchandise just one hour before our team arrived at the Ventura Road Vons. Unfortunately incidents like this occur in our city each and every week at the major retail stores. These Incidents are a significant monetary loss to the businesses and are exactly why we are partnering with the business community to reduce overall crime.

Members of the Oxnard Police Department Neighborhood Policing Team (NPT) have been working directly with the loss prevention agents at the Oxnard Vons stores. Typically what will happen is the loss prevention agents will look for persons who have concealed merchandise within the store or people that they suspect are attempting to conceal merchandise with the store. They will communicate the information to police officers that are working with them inside and outside the store. The police officers are positioned in the camera rooms of the store and covertly positioned outside in the parking lot of the store to intercept the suspects immediately as they leave with stolen merchandise. This activity has been very successful and it has resulted in not only the recovery of stolen merchandise from the stores, but it has also led to arrests for persons having active arrest warrants, carrying illegal weapons and possession of narcotics. During one of the operations additional stolen merchandise was found from a different retail store inside of the suspect vehicle during a subsequent search.

The undercover operations took place at three separate Vons grocery stores within the city. The first was conducted in October at two of the stores resulting in eleven arrests for theft of merchandise. Our second operation was done on 12/16/16 at the Vons in the Shopping at the Rose resulting in five arrests. Our third was done on 12/23/16 at the Vons on Ventura Road and Fifth Street resulting in eight arrests.

There were six adults and two juveniles arrested during the 12/23/16 operation, all six adults were booked into the Ventura County Jail for theft. The two minors were released to parents. The adults arrested are:

Robert Jimenez, age 64 Oxnard resident.

Vincent Munoz, age 48 Oxnard resident.

Enrique Hernandez, age 48, Oxnard resident.

Brittany Hedge, age 22 Oxnard resident.

Jordan Hernandez, age 27 Oxnard resident.

Isaiah Magallon, age 18 Oxnard resident.

The Neighborhood policing team will be working with not only Vons/Pavilions but several other major retail businesses within the city in 2017. Theft from retail stores account for significant losses each year. It also results in a high number of calls for police service to each of these locations because there are so many shoplifting suspects arrested by the loss prevention agents. Our goal is to try and work with these retailers and reduce the amount of theft they experience and also reduce the police calls for service.

The Oxnard Police Department Neighborhood Policing Team is committed to reducing theft and forging close partnerships with our community stakeholders. Police Officers will be working undercover at Vons regularly in 2017 and we believe we will have a significant impact reducing theft. We want people to think twice before they steal from these stores because you never know when a police officer will be waiting by the front doors.

The Oxnard Police Department Neighborhood Policing Team (NPT) was formed in June 2016 and has 20 officers assigned. The NPT focuses on crime and quality of life issues at the neighborhood level with a focus on Community Policing and Problem Solving.

DATE / TIME PREPARED:

12-24-16/1600 hours

OXNARD POLICE DEPARTMENT

NEWS RELEASE

INCIDENT:	Shooting Suspect Arrested for Attempted Murder
DATE/TIME:	December 27, 2016 / 0137 hours
LOCATION:	Rose Avenue at Channel Islands Boulevard
SUSPECT(S):	Daniel Miramontes, 41 years, Oxnard Resident
VICTIM:	Name withheld, 20 year old male, Oxnard Resident
SUSPECT VEHICLE(S):	Silver, 2002 Acura MDX
PREPARED BY:	Brian Woolley, Sergeant
CONTACT PERSON AND CONTACT INFO:	Sergeant Brian Woolley (805) 385-7600 [email protected]

DETAILS:

On December 27, 2016, at approximately 1:37 AM, officers from the Oxnard Police Department responded to the area of Rose Avenue and Channel Islands Boulevard in reference to a report of shots fired at a vehicle driven by the victim. When officers arrived, the victim was found to be uninjured but his vehicle was struck by gunfire. Witnesses, who were present when the shooting occurred, followed the suspect vehicle as it fled the scene and called 9-1-1. The witnesses were able to provide a complete description of the vehicle and the suspect to police dispatchers as it traveled through south Oxnard.

Approximately 20 minutes later, officers who were searching the area located the suspect vehicle traveling at the intersection of Third Street and Campton Drive, less than five miles from the shooting scene. The vehicle was stopped and suspect Daniel Miramontes was taken into custody. When officers conducted a search of the vehicle, a loaded handgun was found in the passenger compartment.

Miramontes was charged with attempted murder, several weapons violations, and for being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm. He was later booked into the Ventura County Jail. At the time of this shooting, Miramontes was out on bail for two previous cases involving his possession of multiple firearms. The first case is out of the City of Ventura earlier this year. The second case occurred in Oxnard on November 14, 2016, when officers from the Oxnard Police Department stopped Miramontes for a traffic violation on the 600 block of East Gonzales Road. During that encounter, Miramontes was found to be in possession of three firearms, one being a high-powered rifle (news release from 11/14/16 and a photograph of the weapons found in the vehicle this morning is attached).

This arrest was a direct result of the public calling 9-1-1 to report a crime in progress. The Oxnard Police Department continues to encourage residents to be partners in public safety. If anyone has further information, they are encouraged to call the Oxnard Police Department’s main line at (805) 385-7600. 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 http://www.venturacountycrimestoppers.org/contactus.aspx to submit a tip via text or email.

DATE / TIME PREPARED: December 27, 2016 / 0530 hours

OXNARD POLICE DEPARTMENT

NEWS RELEASE

INCIDENT:	Shooting
DATE/TIME:	12/24/16, 11:57 a.m.
LOCATION:	900 blk. Bismark, Oxnard
PREPARED BY:	Bakari Myers
CONTACT PERSON AND CONTACT INFO:	Bakari Myers [email protected] (805) 385-7778

DETAILS:

On 12/24/16, at about 11:57 a.m. officers responded to the intersection of Albany Dr. and Channel Islands Blvd. reference a call of a shooting. The witness observed shots being fired from a red Mitsubishi Eclipse, toward a silver Chevy Camaro. A witness followed the Eclipse to a residence in the 400 blk. of E. Olive St. Officers responded to the location and detained several potential suspects.

As officers were dealing with the potential suspects on Olive, additional officers responded to Albany and Channel Islands to locate the victim and the crime scene. Oxnard dispatchers had not yet received a call from the occupants in the silver Camaro. Officers ultimately located the owner of the Camaro in the 900 blk. of Bismark. The vehicle had several bullet holes in it and officers located several shell casings in the area. The Eclipse and the Camaro were impounded. No arrests were made and there were no injuries. The investigation is continuing.

DATE / TIME PREPARED: December 24, 2016 1749 hours

OXNARD POLICE DEPARTMENT

NEWS RELEASE

INCIDENT:	Oxnard Police Serve Search Warrants Related to the Steven Magallon Homicide Investigation
DATE/TIME:	December 21, 2016 at approximately 7 a.m.
LOCATION:	Various locations in the City of Oxnard
VICTIM(S):	Steven Magallon, 31 year old Oxnard resident
PREPARED BY:	Sergeant Alex Arnett (805) 385-7763 [email protected]
CONTACT PERSON & CONTACT INFO:	Detective Miguel Serrato (805) 385-7688 [email protected]

DETAILS:

(Oxnard, Calif) – Early this morning, the Oxnard Police Department served search warrants and conducted probation searches related to the murder of Steven Magallon. On March 26, 2016, Magallon was shot several times in the 300 block of Cuesta Del Mar after a confrontation with several subjects. Magallon was transported by ambulance to the Ventura County Medical Center (VCMC). On April 7, 2016, Magallon died as a result of the gunshot wounds.

Investigators from the Violent Crimes Unit and the Major Crimes Unit responded to the scene to assume the investigation. Investigators persistently and tirelessly investigated the senseless murder of Steven Magallon. Investigators obtained important information that led to today’s search warrants and probation searches.

The search warrants were served by officers from the Oxnard Police Department’s Special Enforcement Unit (SEU), along with investigators from the Oxnard Police Department and the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office. The search warrants were served at several locations in the city of Oxnard this morning. During the search warrant service, three firearms, numerous rounds of ammunition and illegal high-capacity magazines were seized by police.

In conjunction with the search warrant service, Ventura County Probation Officers and Oxnard police officers assigned to the Neighborhood Policing Team (NPT) conducted several probation searches. As a result of the search warrants and probations searches, four Oxnard residents were arrested for various charges ranging from violation of probation to weapons violations.

Investigators will continue to investigate the murder of Steven Magallon. The City of Oxnard offers a $10,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of a suspect(s) in homicide cases. If anyone has information regarding the murder of Steven Magallon, you are asked to call Detective Miguel Serrato at (805) 385-7688. You can also provide valuable information while remaining anonymous by calling the Violent Crimes Hotline at (805) 982-70701, or Ventura County Crime Stoppers at (800) 222-8477.

DATE / TIME PREPARED: 12/21/16 1500 hrs

OXNARD POLICE DEPARTMENT

NEWS RELEASE

INCIDENT:	Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control Grant Awarded to Oxnard Police Department
DATE:	December 21, 2016
LOCATION:	Oxnard Police Department 251 South C Street Oxnard, CA 93030
PREPARED BY:	Officer David Castillo
CONTACT PERSON AND CONTACT INFO:	Officer David Castillo Oxnard Police Department Central Business District (805) 512-3227 [email protected]

DETAILS: The Oxnard Police Department was one of seventeen agencies in California selected by the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control to receive grant funding. The Oxnard Police Department was awarded $24,000 to assist in ABC regulation programs in the City of Oxnard.

Some of the goals of this program are to combat underage drinking and to ensure alcohol-licensed businesses are in compliance. Some of the programs used to accomplish these goals are the “Minor Decoy” operations, “Shoulder Tap” operations, and “IMPACT” operations (Informed Merchants Preventing Alcohol-Related Crime Tendencies).

Minor decoy programs have been used by local law enforcement in California since about 1987. They have been evaluated and found to be effective. These operations, conducted by law enforcement and/or community groups, can markedly increase the percentage of licensees who comply with the minimum-purchase-age law. In the last five years alone local law enforcement officers have visited roughly 4,000-6,000 establishments per year in decoy operations.

The Decoy Shoulder Tap Program is an enforcement program that ABC and local law enforcement agencies use to detect and deter shoulder tap activity. During the program, a minor decoy, under the direct supervision of law enforcement officers, solicits adults outside ABC licensed stores to buy the minor decoy alcohol.

The Oxnard Police Department will also host a free “LEAD” class (Licensee Education on Alcohol and Drugs) for local alcohol-licensed retailers. The mission of the LEAD Program is to provide high quality, effective and educationally sound training on alcohol responsibility and the law to California retail licensees and their employees. The class is 4 hours long and is going to be held on January 24, 2017 from 11:00 am to 3:00 pm in the human resources community room located on the ground floor of City Hall 300 W. Third Street Oxnard, Ca. If you would like to attend, register at www.abc.ca.gov.

This project is part of the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control’s Education and Teen Alcohol Enforcement Program Grant, funded by the California’s Office of Traffic Safety through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

For more information, please contact the Oxnard Police Department.

DATE / TIME PREPARED: 12/21/16 1300 Hours

OXNARD POLICE DEPARTMENT

NEWS RELEASE

INCIDENT:	DUI/Driver’s License Checkpoint Results
DATE/TIME:	Saturday, December 17, 2016 8:00 p.m. to 3:00 a.m.
LOCATION:	City of Oxnard
PREPARED BY:	Jamie Brown, Senior Officer
CONTACT PERSON & CONTACT INFO:	Jamie Brown, Traffic Coordinator (805) 385-7749 [email protected]

DETAILS:

DUI Checkpoint Nets five Arrests

The Oxnard Police Department Traffic Unit conducted two DUI/Driver’s License Checkpoints on December 17, 2016, between the hours of 8:00 p.m. and 3:00 a.m. The first checkpoint was conducted in the southbound lanes of Victoria Avenue south of Wooley Road and the second checkpoint was conducted in the northbound lanes of Oxnard Boulevard north of Second Street. 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.

High visibility enforcements, which include DUI/Driver’s license checkpoints, have been shown to lower DUI deaths and injuries. A major component of these checkpoints are the deterrent effects it has on those who might drive alcohol or drug impaired, bringing about more awareness and encouraging everyone to use sober designated drivers.

The checkpoint resulted in the following:

804 Vehicles Screened
Five DUI-Alcohol suspects arrested
Nine Drivers cited/arrested for operating a vehicle unlicensed or while suspended/revoked
31 Citations issued

One of the five DUI arrests came after the driver sped through the checkpoint at a speed of more than 50 MPH. The vehicle was stopped a few blocks away and the driver was found to have a blood-alcohol level more than three times the legal limit.

Drivers are encouraged to download the Designated Driver VIP, or “DDVIP,” free mobile app for Android or iPhone. The DDVIP app helps find nearby bars and restaurants that feature free incentives for the designated sober driver, from free non-alcoholic drinks to free appetizers and more. The feature-packed app even has social media tie-ins and even a tab for the non-DD to call Uber, Lyft or Curb.

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.

Drivers caught driving impaired can expect the impact of a DUI arrest to include jail time, fines, fees, DUI classes, license suspension and other expenses that can exceed $10,000 not to mention the embarrassment when friends and family find out.

The checkpoint was funded by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, reminding everyone to ‘Report Drunk Driver – Call 9-1-1’.