John Crombach
Chief of Police

Oxnard Police Department

R. Jason Benites
Assistant Chief

Scott Whitney
Assistant Chief

OXNARD POLICE DEPARTMENT

PRESS RELEASE

INCIDENT:	211 PC – Robbery 182(a)(1)PC – Conspiracy
DATE/TIME:	4-26-10/0345 Hours
LOCATION:	1600-block of South Oxnard Boulevard, Oxnard
VICTIM(S):	40 year-old, Oxnard resident 32 year-old, Oxnard resident
SUSPECT(S):	Dante Payne, 23 year-old, Oxnard resident David Lumas, 21 year-old, Oxnard resident
WITNESS(ES):	22 year-old, Oxnard resident
SUSPECT VEHICLE(S):	Silver 4 door vehicle, In custody
LOSS:	Unknown amount of currency
PREPARED BY:	Detective Roger Garcia
CONTACT PERSON & CONTACT INFO:	Detective Roger Garcia (805) 385-7688

DETAILS:

On 4-26-10, officers were patrolling the 1600-block of South Oxnard Boulevard when they saw a silver 4 door vehicle that matched the description of a vehicle recently used in several robberies which occurred over the weekend. The suspects driving this silver vehicle were described as 2 African American males in their mid 20’s. Officers eventually contacted the solo driver, Dante Payne, and during the course of the investigation, officers located several large knives in Payne’s vehicle. Payne was later taken into custody for possessing a deadly weapon and the vehicle was impounded.

As the investigation continued, investigators discovered Payne associates with David Lumas, who also matched the description of the recent robbery suspects. Photographic line up’s were shown to the victims and witness and they were able to identify Payne and Lumas as the suspects in the robberies from over the weekend. Payne was charged with 2 counts of robbery and conspiracy while Lumas was charged with 1 count of robbery and conspiracy.

Both suspects were booked at Ventura County Main Jail Facility and their bail is set at $500,000.00.

Anyone with information regarding these incidents is asked to contact Detective Roger Garcia at 805-385-7688 or you may leave a message on the Violent Crimes Hotline at 805-982-7070. To give an anonymous tip, call Crime Stoppers at 800-222-TIPS (8477).

An investigation is continuing.

John Crombach
Chief of Police

Oxnard Police Department

R. Jason Benites
Assistant Chief

Scott Whitney
Assistant Chief

OXNARD POLICE DEPARTMENT

PRESS RELEASE

INCIDENT:	Brandishing of a firearm, Resisting Arrest
DATE/TIME:	April 30, 2010 1:15 PM
LOCATION:	2981 Ventura Bl.
VICTIM(S):	Owl Towing
SUSPECT(S):	Juan Carlos Guerrero (28 years)
WITNESS(ES):	N/A
SUSPECT VEHICLE(S):	Brown Nissan 280z License:1PIZ512
LOSS:	N/A
PREPARED BY:	Sergeant Mike Van Atta
CONTACT PERSON & CONTACT INFO:	Det. Ed Baldwin 486-7386

DETAILS:

On 4-30-10 at around 1:45 PM, Oxnard Police Officers were dispatched to Owl Towing, 2981 Ventura Bl. reference a subject standing in front of the business threatening employees and brandishing a shotgun. Investigation revealed the identity of the subject as 28-year old Juan Carlos Guerrero who fled prior to officers’ arrival in a brown Datsun 280z license: 1PIZ512.

Guerrero was at the towing company for the purpose of retrieving property from a vehicle that had previously been towed from him. He specifically told employees that he was there to retrieve a gun from the vehicle. When he was denied access, Guerrero became agitated and made threats that he would return at a later time to burn down the business. Guerrero then got inside his vehicle which was parked in front of the business. An employee exited the business and began writing down the license plate of Guerrero’s vehicle when Guerrero brandished a shotgun at employees of the business. Guerrero then fled the scene.

Oxnard Police Officers began searching for Guerrero. At about 2:45 PM, Guerrero was located at a storage facility in the 2700 block of Cawelti in Camarillo by Sergeant Terry Burr of the Oxnard Police Department’s Violent Crimes Unit. Deputies from the Ventura County Sheriff’s Department responded to assist along with officers from the Oxnard Police Department. Guerrero initially refused to surrender himself to officers and refused to comply with the direction of officers. After a brief standoff at gunpoint, Guerrero was taken into custody without incident.

John Crombach
Chief of Police

Oxnard Police Department

R. Jason Benites
Assistant Chief

Scott Whitney
Assistant Chief

OXNARD POLICE DEPARTMENT

PRESS RELEASE

INCIDENT:	Assault with a Deadly Weapon (Stabbing)
DATE/TIME:	6-12-2010 / 2300 hours
LOCATION:	Bard Rd. and J St
VICTIM(S):	Juvenile male, 17 years
SUSPECT(S):	Hispanic male 17 years, 5’8”, medium build
WITNESS(ES):
SUSPECT VEHICLE(S):
LOSS:	Minor Laceration
PREPARED BY:	Detective Mike Marostica
CONTACT PERSON & CONTACT INFO:	Detective Mike Thomas 385-7660

DETAILS:

On 6-12-10 at around 2300 hours, Oxnard police officers responded to an assault victim at St. John’s Regional Medical Center. The victim told officers he was confronted by the suspect who was in the company of approximately 10 subjects at Bard Rd. and J St. The suspect assaulted the victim by stabbing him once. The victim was transported by private vehicle to St. John’s Regional Medical Center with a non-life threatening injury.

Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to contact Detective Mike Thomas at (805) 385-7660 or Ventura County Crimestoppers at (800) 222-TIPS.

DATE / TIME PREPARED: 6-13-10 0155 hours.

10-12523

John Crombach
Chief of Police

Oxnard Police Department

R. Jason Benites
Assistant Chief

Scott Whitney
Assistant Chief

OXNARD POLICE DEPARTMENT

PRESS RELEASE

INCIDENT:	DUI Checkpoint Results
DATE/TIME:	Thursday, September 16th, 2010 1800-2400
LOCATION:	City of Oxnard
CONTACT PERSON & CONTACT INFO:	Brian Woolley, Traffic Coordinator (805) 385-7749

DETAILS:

In response to several alcohol-related collisions that have occurred on Thursday nights over the past several months, The Oxnard Police Department conducted a multi-location sobriety and driver’s license checkpoint on Thursday, September 16th, from 6:00 P.M. to midnight. This checkpoint was held in the southbound lanes of Rose Avenue at Cesar Chavez Drive.

Officers screened 1,207 motorists who passed through the checkpoints. Officers conducted two DUI investigations with drivers who had been drinking alcohol and one of them was arrested for DUI with a blood alcohol level of .14. One additional driver was arrested for outstanding misdemeanor warrants from San Bernardino County.

Thirty-one drivers were issued citations for various driver’s license violations. Fourteen drivers were issued citations for driving without a valid driver’s license and two drivers were cited for driving with a suspended or revoked driver’s license. Nine vehicles were towed from the checkpoint.

These checkpoints are funded by grants from the California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) through the National Highway Transportation Administration (NHTSA). The Oxnard Police Department will be conducting two additional sobriety and driver’s license checkpoints before the end of this month.

For any questions related to DUI and traffic enforcement, please contact Senior Officer Brian Woolley at (805) 385-7749 or via e-mail at brianwoolley@oxnardpd.org.

John Crombach
Chief of Police

Oxnard Police Department

R. Jason Benites
Assistant Chief

Scott Whitney
Assistant Chief

OXNARD POLICE DEPARTMENT

PRESS RELEASE

INCIDENT:	Narcotics Search Warrant
DATE/TIME:	September 23, 2010 / 1100 hours
LOCATION:	2700 block of Geronimo Drive, Oxnard
SUSPECT(S):	Janet Pecatoste (8/28/77), resident of Oxnard
PREPARED BY:	Sergeant Greg Hebert
CONTACT PERSON & CONTACT INFO:	Sergeant Greg Hebert, greghebert@oxnardpd.org 385-7636

DETAILS:

On September 23, 2010, the Oxnard Police Department’s Narcotics Unit served a search warrant on Janet Pecatoste at her residence in the 2700 block of Geronimo Drive in the City of Oxnard. The search warrant was the result of a 2 month investigation into Pecatoste for sales of methamphetamines.

Pecatoste was arrested at the residence without incident. A search of the residence revealed a small quantity of crystal methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia. Pecatoste was booked into Ventura County Jail for possession of a controlled substance for sales and bail was set at $50,000.

Pecatoste was operating a “room and board” facility at the residence with many of the tenants being clients of Behavioral Health Services. Behavioral Health Services was contacted and will follow up with their own investigation into Pecatoste.

An investigation is ongoing.

Jeri Williams
Chief of Police

Oxnard Police Department

R. Jason Benites
Assistant Chief

Scott Whitney
Assistant Chief

OXNARD POLICE DEPARTMENT

PRESS RELEASE

INCIDENT:	Child Luring and Enticement
DATE/TIME:	January 31, 2011
LOCATION:	City of Oxnard
VICTIM(S):	Nine year old female; Fourteen year old female
SUSPECT(S):	Nicholas Ortega, 18 years old
WITNESS(ES):	Parents of the victims
SUSPECT VEHICLE(S):	N/A
LOSS:	N/A
PREPARED BY:	Detective Erica Escalante
CONTACT PERSON & CONTACT INFO:	Detective Erica Escalante (805) 385-7759

DETAILS:

On January 31, 2011, a nine year old female Oxnard resident received unsolicited text messages on her cellular telephone from a person unknown to her. The text messages continued for several hours and the Suspect persuaded the Victim to send him a partially nude photograph of herself via text message. The Victim’s mother discovered the situation when she checked her daughter’s cell phone that night and reported the incident to the Oxnard Police Department. The Oxnard Police Department investigated the crime and detectives were able to identify the Suspect, who was an 18-year old Oxnard resident, Nicholas Ortega. Upon contact with the Suspect, he was found to be in possession of child pornographic images of a fourteen year old female Oxnard resident. The Suspect was arrested for several counts of child enticement and luring and possession of child pornography. The Suspect was booked into Ventura County Sheriff’s Department jail with a bail of $50,000.

Parents are reminded to monitor their children’s computer and cellular telephone usage. Children are reminded not to communicate with strangers online or on cellular telephones. Parents and children may find additional resources at the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children at www.missingkids.com or 1-800-843-5678. The investigation is continuing in relation to any other children who may have been persuaded to send the Suspect nude images of themselves with assistance from the local Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force members including investigators from the Oxnard Police Department, FBI, and Ventura County Sheriff’s Department. Contact Oxnard Police Department Detective Erica Escalante at (805) 385-7759.

Jeri Williams
Chief of Police

Oxnard Police Department

R. Jason Benites
Assistant Chief

Scott Whitney
Assistant Chief

OXNARD POLICE DEPARTMENT

PRESS RELEASE

INCIDENT:	Homicide
DATE/TIME:	8/26/2012, 0224 hours
LOCATION:	“J” Street and Hemlock Street
VICTIM(S):	Unknown adult male
SUSPECT(S):	Unknown
PREPARED BY:	Sgt Christopher Williams, (805) 486-6211 Christopher.williams@oxnardpd.org
CONTACT PERSON & CONTACT INFO:	Detective Jeff Kay, Major Crimes Unit, (805) 385-8174 jeff.kay@oxnardpd.org

DETAILS:

On 8/26/12 at approximately 0224 hours, Oxnard police officers were dispatched to a fight with possible shots being fired in the area of Hemlock Street and “J” Street. When officers arrived they located an adult male lying in the street suffering from a gunshot wound. The subject was pronounced dead by emergency responders.
Investigators are attempting to identify the victim and are still investigating several leads and motives at this time. This is the fifth homicide this year in the city.
The City of Oxnard offers a $10,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of suspect(s) in homicide cases.
Citizens are reminded that anyone with information about this incident is encouraged to call Oxnard PD at (805) 385-7650 or Detective Jeff Kay at (805) 385-8174. 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 sitehttp://www.venturacountycrimestoppers.org/contactus.aspx to submit a tip via text or email.

DATE / TIME PREPARED: 8/26/2012, 1000 hours, CW

Jeri Williams
Chief of Police

Oxnard Police Department

R. Jason Benites
Assistant Chief

Scott Whitney
Assistant Chief

OXNARD POLICE DEPARTMENT

NEWS RELEASE

INCIDENT:	Suspect Arrest – Felony Warrant (PC 136 and PC 422)
DATE/TIME:	12/17/13/ approximately 0500 hours
LOCATION:	2500 block Timber Creek Trail
VICTIM(S):	N/A
SUSPECT(S):	Alberto Romero Goeva., 20 year old, Oxnard resident
PREPARED BY:	Miguel Lopez, Community Affairs Manager
CONTACT PERSON & CONTACT INFO:	Miguel Lopez, Community Affairs Manager, miguel.lopez@oxnardpd.org

DETAILS: On, December 17, 2013, at approximately 0500 hours, Oxnard Police and SWAT arrived at residence in the 2500 block Timber Creek Trail, in the South Bank neighborhood in Oxnard, to serve a warrant for a suspect wanted for multiple felonies, including witness intimidation (PC136) and criminal threats (PC422).

Oxnard SWAT was the first to respond to the scene for this operation, to secure the immediate area and establish a perimeter. Oxnard Police had reason to believe that the subject was on the property at this residence.

After property and immediate areas was secure by SWAT, investigators and detectives were able to enter and begin a thorough search of the residence. Detectives began searching residence pursuant to search warrant and heard suspect inside of an exterior wall. Oxnard Fire who was stationed remotely on standby was called to assist with structure and free suspect who was trapped between structural walls of the residence. The suspect was taken into custody without incident.

Nearby school was not put on lockdown, and School Resource Officer (SRO) and Incident Commander were in direct communication with principal during this time.

Contrary to comments we have seen on social media, there were no shots fired or exchanged during this operation.

The reported shots were a tool (not a firearm) law enforcement use, which were louder and appeared to travel because of the cold morning crisp air.

Upon his arrest, the suspect was transported to a local hospital for medical clearance, before being transported to Ventura County Jail where he was booked.

Oxnard Police and Investigators are encouraging anyone with information about this incident or any of our on-going investigations to contact Oxnard Police if you have any information that may help us solve and close these cases. If you wish to remain anonymous, you can call the Violent Crimes Hotline at (805) 982-7070 or Ventura County Crime Stoppers at (800) 222-8477.

You can also visit www.venturacountycrimestoppers.org to submit a tip via text or email.

DATE / TIME PREPARED: 12/17/13, 1120 Hours

Jeri Williams
Chief of Police

Oxnard Police Department

R. Jason Benites
Assistant Chief

Scott Whitney
Assistant Chief

OXNARD POLICE DEPARTMENT

NEWS RELEASE

INCIDENT:	DUI/Driver’s License Checkpoint
DATE/TIME:	Friday, January 24, 2014 8:00 P.M. to 2:00 A.M.
LOCATION:	City of Oxnard
PREPARED BY:	Brian Woolley, Traffic Sergeant (805) 385-7847 brian.woolley@oxnardpd.org
CONTACT PERSON & CONTACT INFO:	Jamie Brown, Traffic Coordinator (805) 385-7749 jamie.brown@oxnardpd.org

DETAILS:
On January 24, 2014, between the hours of 8:00 P.M. and 2:00 A.M., officers from the Oxnard Police Department conducted two DUI/Driver’s license checkpoints in the City of Oxnard. The first checkpoint was conducted in the southbound lanes of Rose Avenue near Wooley Road. The second was held in the southbound lanes of Harbor Boulevard at Wooley Road.

Officers screened 508 motorists who passed through the checkpoints and conducted four DUI investigations on drivers who had been drinking alcohol and/or using drugs while driving. All four drivers were arrested for violations of misdemeanor DUI.

Citations were issued to 20 drivers for various vehicle code violations. One driver was issued a citation for driving with a suspended driver’s license while 11 drivers were issued citations for driving without a valid driver’s license. Four vehicles were towed from the checkpoints.

Through strategic efforts involving enforcement, engineering and educational programs, the Oxnard Police Department has made significant progress with reducing the number of collisions in the City of Oxnard. In 2008, there were 2,593 collisions in the city. Last year experienced a 41 percent reduction with 1,519 collisions. In 2013, over 500 drivers were also arrested for DUI in Oxnard.

Each year, the California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) uses collision data gathered from cities throughout California and ranks them according to their population size. The City of Oxnard is among 55 cities placed in a group where the population is between 100,001 to 250,000. Collision statistics gathered by OTS include total fatalities and injuries, alcohol involved by age, motorcycles, pedestrians by age and bicyclists. Over the past several years, the City of Oxnard consistently ranked among the top five of the “worst” on this list. Our dedicated efforts towards collision reduction have resulted in a 2011 OTS ranking of 17 on the same list.

The Oxnard Police Department will continue to conduct DUI enforcement operations this year. These operations are an effort to reduce the number of alcohol related crashes and to make our roadways and community safer. We also remind people that if they see an impaired driver to dial 911. These DUI enforcement operations are funded by grants from the California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) and through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

For any questions related to DUI and traffic enforcement, please contact Senior Officer Jamie Brown at (805) 385-7749 or via e-mail at jamie.brown@oxnardpd.org.

DATE / TIME PREPARED: 1/25/14, 0400 hours

Jeri Williams
Chief of Police

Oxnard Police Department

R. Jason Benites
Assistant Chief

Scott Whitney
Assistant Chief

OXNARD POLICE DEPARTMENT

NEWS RELEASE

INCIDENT:	DUI/Driver’s License Checkpoint
DATE/TIME:	December 19, 2014 / 2000-0300 Hours
LOCATION:	City of Oxnard
PREPARED BY:	Brian Woolley, Traffic Sergeant (805) 385-7847 brian.woolley@oxnardpd.org
CONTACT PERSON & CONTACT INFO:	Senior Officer Jamie Brown (805) 385-7749 jamie.brown@oxnardpd.org

DETAILS:
As the holiday season is upon us, the Oxnard Police Department wants to remind everyone to drive safe and drive sober. Tomorrow night, December 19^th, the Oxnard Police Department Traffic Unit will be conducting a multiple location DUI/Driver’s License Checkpoint within the city limits from 8:00 p.m. to 3:00 a.m. Officers will be looking for signs of alcohol and/or drug impairment with officers checking drivers for proper licensing delaying motorists only momentarily. Specially trained officers will be available to evaluate those suspected of drug-impaired driving.

On average, nearly one third (31%) of all crash fatalities in America involves drunk driving. Nationally, the latest data shows 10,322 people were killed by an impaired driver in 2012 with 830 killed in December alone. More than half (53%) of the drunk drivers in these fatal crashes had at least one previous DUI conviction on their record. In California, 802 people were killed and nearly 24,000 serious injuries were caused in 2012 because someone failed to designate a sober driver.

In 2012, 3,829 drivers in Ventura County were arrested for driving while under the influence of alcohol, drugs and/or a combination of alcohol and drugs. Tragically, 14 people were killed that year in the county as a result of driving under the influence. While this number has dropped from prior years, it is still too many lives lost.

Funding for this checkpoint is provided to the Oxnard Police Department 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.

DATE / TIME PREPARED: December 18, 2014 / 1900 hours