John Crombach Chief of Police

Oxnard Police Department R. Jason Benites Assistant Chief Scott Whitney Assistant Chief

OXNARD POLICE DEPARTMENT

PRESS RELEASE

DETAILS:

On 5-24-2010 at approximately 0507 hours, two officers from the Oxnard Police Department were dispatched to a call of an “audible alarm from a business” that is located in the 3400 block of W. 5th St. When the officers arrived they noticed a broken front window to the business. One of the officers moved to the rear of the building while the second officer covered the front. The officer who went to the rear of the building reported that he heard movement coming from inside of the business. Around this time, the second officer reported seeing a subject inside the front side of the business.

A door at the rear of the business suddenly opened and the suspect was confronted by the officer. The officer, who had drawn his weapon, ordered the suspect out of the business and to raise his arms. The suspect refused to comply with the officer’s commands, and went back into the business, closing the door behind him. The suspect opened the door several more times, continuing to refuse to comply with the officer’s orders to show his hands to the officer. It appears that once the suspect realized that the officer was by himself in this location, the suspect charged directly at the officer in an aggressive manner, rather than flee in a direction that would have better allowed him an opportunity to escape. Weighing the circumstances and fearing for his life, the officer shot the suspect. The suspect was pronounced dead at the scene. No weapon was found in the suspect’s possession.

The officer, who was not injured, was placed paid administrative leave, which is standard procedure.

John Crombach Chief of Police

Oxnard Police Department R. Jason Benites Assistant Chief Scott Whitney Assistant Chief

OXNARD POLICE DEPARTMENT

PRESS RELEASE

DETAILS:

On 8-25-10, at approximately 2200 hours, Oxnard Police Officers responded to Saint John’s Hospital Regional Medical Center reference contacting the victim of an assault. Officers discovered the victim was walking in the alley way of the 500-block of West Channel Islands Boulevard when he was approached by several unknown Hispanic males. The suspects yelled out gang slogans and then stabbed the victim multiple times. The suspects fled the area on foot while the victim was being transported to Saint John’s Hospital by a friend. Victim is currently in stable condition.

The victim’s name is being withheld due to possible gang retaliation.

Anyone who witnessed the assault take place is asked to contact Detective Alex Arnett at 805-486-6297 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

DETAILS:

The Oxnard Police Department conducted two multi-location sobriety and driver’s license checkpoints this weekend. The first one was held on Friday from 6:00 P.M. to midnight. The second one was held on Sunday night from 6:00 P.M. to 11:00 P.M.

The checkpoints were held in the following locations:

1. S/B Rose Avenue @ Emerson Avenue
2. S/B Rose Avenue @ First Street

Officers screened 1,833 motorists who passed through the checkpoints. Officers conducted four DUI investigations with drivers who had been drinking alcohol and two drivers were arrested for DUI. One of the drivers had a blood alcohol level of .16 while the other had a level of .20. A third driver was arrested for an outstanding misdemeanor warrant while another driver was arrested for possession of over three ounces of marijuana.

Eighty-two drivers were issued citations for various driver’s license violations. Forty-eight drivers were issued citations for driving without a valid driver’s license and four drivers were cited for driving with a suspended or revoked driver’s license. Twenty-one vehicles were towed from the checkpoints.

The Oxnard Police Department has conducted 22 sobriety and driver’s license checkpoints since the October of 2009. All of these checkpoints combined resulted in 35 drivers arrested for DUI, 486 unlicensed drivers were issued citations, and 54 additional drivers were found to be driving with a suspended driver’s license.

All of these DUI enforcement operations are funded by grants from the California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) through the National Highway Transportation Administration (NHTSA).

For any questions related to DUI and traffic enforcement, please contact Senior Officer Brian Woolley at (805) 385-7749 or via e-mail at [email protected].

Oxnard Police Department R. Jason Benites Assistant Chief Scott Whitney Assistant Chief

OXNARD POLICE DEPARTMENT

PRESS RELEASE

DETAILS:

On Saturday, 12-4-10, the Downtown Oxnard Merchant’s Association will be hosting its annual Downtown Holiday Parade. The event will begin at 10:00 am and conclude at 12:00 pm. This will be followed by the 2010 Tamale Festival to be held in Plaza Park.

These events are expected to draw large crowds and traffic delays should be expected. The Oxnard Police Department will be handling traffic control to expedite the flow of traffic surrounding the event site. Starting at 9:00 am, all intersections on ‘C’ St from Second Street to Fifth Street, and ‘A’ St. from Fifth Street to Wooley Rd. will be closed to through traffic.

There will be “NO PARKING” signs posted on and around the parade route. The recommended parking area for persons attending the parade and other downtown events is the downtown parking structure located at Third Street @ ‘B’ Street.

These traffic flow modifications are taking place to assist in relieving the traffic congestion from this event in a timely and orderly fashion, with caution for pedestrians.

Please have a safe holiday season and enjoy watching the parade.

For any questions related to parking and traffic flow during the parade, please contact Senior Officer Brian Woolley at (805) 385-7749 or via e-mail at [email protected].

Jeri Williams Chief of Police

Oxnard Police Department R. Jason Benites Assistant Chief Scott Whitney Assistant Chief

OXNARD POLICE DEPARTMENT

PRESS RELEASE

DETAILS:

Fans Don’t Let Fans Drive Drunk
Make the right play to save your life and others.

Super Bowl Sunday is one of America’s biggest and most entertaining national sporting events as friends and families gather to socialize and watch the big game. Yet, it is also one of the Nation’s most dangerous days on the roadways due to impaired driving. On Super Bowl Sunday 2009, there were 105 alcohol-related injury collisions in California with 11 fatalities. Last year, there were 79 alcohol-related injury collisions with four fatalities.

The Oxnard Police Department is reminding football fans to drive safely and drive sober this weekend. Several officers will be deployed over the weekend to conduct strict enforcement of impaired driving. The enforcement starts Friday night, February 4th, with a driver’s license and sobriety checkpoint. The checkpoint is scheduled to start at 6:00 P.M. and end at approximately 2:00 A.M. During and after the checkpoint, several more officers will be dedicated to DUI enforcement until 3:00 A.M.

The weekend enforcement will continue on Saturday night as additional officers will be deployed to search for impaired drivers. On Super Bowl Sunday, several officers will be patrolling the streets of Oxnard conducting DUI saturation starting at 3:00 P.M. Over the 2010 Super Bowl weekend, the Oxnard Police Department arrested 16 drivers for DUI. Seven of those drivers were arrested on Sunday following the game. Fortunately, there were no DUI related collisions over that same weekend and we want this year to have the same result.

Enjoy the game but remember, impaired driving crashes can be prevented. Designating a sober driver should be on the top of everyone’s Super Bowl party list. Oxnard PD is dedicated to arresting impaired driving; to help, we ask everyone; ‘Report Drunk Drivers, Call 911!’”

These DUI enforcement activities are funded by grants from the California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) through the National Highway Transportation Administration.

For any questions related to DUI and traffic enforcement, please contact Senior Officer Brian Woolley at (805) 385-7749 or via e-mail at [email protected].

• Alcohol Involved Collisions – Any Motor Vehicle Traffic Collision where a driver, pedestrian or bicyclist had been drinking (HBD).
• *Property Damage Only

Jeri Williams Chief of Police

Oxnard Police Department R. Jason Benites Assistant Chief Scott Whitney Assistant Chief

OXNARD POLICE DEPARTMENT

PRESS RELEASE

DETAILS:
 
On 6-23-2011 in the early morning hours two separate armed robberies had occurred. The first one was in the 1500 Block of Graves Avenue. The victim was approached from behind and the suspect demanded all of their property. The suspect was possibly in possession of a shotgun. The second robbery occurred in the 1900 Block of North “C” street. In this incident the suspect was also possibly in possession of a shotgun.

During the investigation the suspect descriptions were similar. It is unknown if they were committed by the same suspect. The first robbery was reported shortly after the incident however the second robbery victim waited a significant amount of time before reporting the crime.

The public is reminded to always be aware of your surroundings and report any suspicious behavior or activities to the police as soon as possible. Delays in reporting incidents greatly reduce the chances that a suspect will be located fleeing the scene.

If you have any additional information regarding these incidents or any other robberies, please contact Detective Steven Funk or you may also leave a message on the Violent Crimes Hotline at (805) 982-7070. If you wish to remain anonymous, you can call Crime Stoppers at 800-222-TIPS (8477).

Jeri Williams Chief of Police

Oxnard Police Department R. Jason Benites Assistant Chief Scott Whitney Assistant Chief

OXNARD POLICE DEPARTMENT

PRESS RELEASE

DETAILS:

The Oxnard Police Department will be conducting a multi-location sobriety and driver’s license checkpoint on Friday, July 8, 2011, from 6:00 P.M. to 12:00 A.M. The checkpoint will be held within the City of Oxnard and is funded by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

In the first six months of 2011, the Oxnard Police Department has investigated nearly 100 alcohol-involved collisions. This is a 13% reduction compared to the first six months of 2010. Although we are pleased with this reduction, over 390 DUI drivers have been arrested this year in the City of Oxnard. The Oxnard Police Department is committed to improving traffic safety and reducing the number of alcohol related crashes to make our roadways and community safer. We will continue to conduct DUI checkpoints, DUI saturation patrols, and DUI warrant operations this year.

How to Report a Drunk Driver

1. Call 911 and tell them you wish to report a suspected drunk driver. **You do not have to give your name.
2. Give a complete description of the vehicle, such as make, model, color and license plate number.
3. Give the exact location of the vehicle, including the name of the road, cross streets and the direction they’re traveling.
4. Describe the manner in which the vehicle is being driven.
5. Do not try to stop the car or detain the driver. Leave that to a law enforcement officer.

As a reminder, the fines, fees and attorney costs associated with a first time DUI conviction in Ventura County can reach over $10,000. Driver’s license suspension and an increase in vehicle insurance premiums are also potential consequences.

For any questions related to DUI and traffic enforcement, please contact Senior Officer Brian Woolley at (805) 385-7749 or via e-mail at [email protected].