Oxnard Police Department

R. Jason Benites
Assistant Chief

Scott Whitney
Assistant Chief

OXNARD POLICE DEPARTMENT

PRESS RELEASE

INCIDENT:	Santa to the Sea Half Marathon
DATE/TIME:	Sunday, December 12th, 2010 0800-1200
LOCATION:	City of Oxnard
CONTACT PERSON & CONTACT INFO:	Brian Woolley, Traffic Coordinator (805) 385-7749

DETAILS:

The Third Annual Santa to the Sea Half Marathon is scheduled for this Sunday morning, December 12th. The race starts at 8:00 A.M. in front of Santa on Ventura Boulevard and travels through the City of Oxnard where it ends at the finish line next to Marine Emporium Landing located at 3600 South Harbor Boulevard. Over 1,300 runners will be participating in this year’s race.

Officers from the Oxnard Police Department will be handling the traffic control along the race course and motorists should expect significant delays at several intersections in the city. These intersections include Rice Avenue at Sturgis Road, Rose Avenue at Camino Del Sol, Fifth Street at Hobson Way, Ventura Road at Ninth Street, Wooley Road at Patterson Road, Victoria Avenue at Wooley Road, and Harbor Boulevard at Wooley Road. Motorists wishing to travel northbound and southbound in the city are encouraged to use Oxnard Boulevard as it will not be affected by the race. All of the roadways are expected to be re-opened by 12:00 P.M.

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

Jeri Williams
Chief of Police

Oxnard Police Department

R. Jason Benites
Assistant Chief

Scott Whitney
Assistant Chief

OXNARD POLICE DEPARTMENT

PRESS RELEASE

INCIDENT:	Super Bowl Weekend DUI Enforcement Results
DATE/TIME:	February 4 to February 6, 2011
LOCATION:	City of Oxnard
VICTIM(S):
SUSPECT(S):
WITNESS(ES):
SUSPECT VEHICLE(S):
LOSS:
PREPARED BY:
CONTACT PERSON & CONTACT INFO:	Brian Woolley, Traffic Coordinator (805) 385-7749

DETAILS:

Over the 2011 Super Bowl Weekend, the Oxnard Police Department conducted additional DUI enforcement. The weekend started with a multi-location sobriety and driver’s license checkpoint on Friday, February 4, 2011, from 6:00 P.M. to midnight.

The first checkpoint was conducted in the southbound lanes of Oxnard Boulevard at Third Street. The second checkpoint was conducted in the southbound lanes of Harbor Boulevard at Fifth Street.

Officers screened 984 motorists who passed through the checkpoints. Fortunately, no DUI arrests were made. One driver was arrested for failing to have a court ordered ignition interlock device installed in his vehicle. This driver had three prior DUI arrests and was also driving with a suspended driver’s license.

At the checkpoint, citations were issued to 29 drivers for various drivers’ license violations. Twenty-four drivers were issued citations for driving without a valid driver’s license and three drivers were cited for driving with a suspended driver’s license. Six vehicles were towed from the checkpoint.

During and following the checkpoint, additional officers patrolled the City of Oxnard searching for impaired drivers until 3:00 A.M. This enforcement resulted in the arrest of four drivers for DUI.

On Super Bowl Sunday, the Oxnard Police Traffic Unit conducted another DUI saturation patrol. After several traffic stops were made, one driver was arrested for DUI. This driver was located by officers after he fled the scene of an injury collision. The driver was unlicensed and his blood alcohol level was found to be .18, over double the legal limit of .08. He was booked into county jail on suspicion of felony drunk driving. The injured driver in the other vehicle was transported to the hospital by ambulance.

Over the weekend, a total of 14 drivers were arrested in Oxnard for DUI.

The Oxnard Police Department will continue to conduct DUI enforcement operations this year. These DUI 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) 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 brianwoolley@oxnardpd.org.

Jeri Williams
Chief of Police

Oxnard Police Department

R. Jason Benites
Assistant Chief

Scott Whitney
Assistant Chief

OXNARD POLICE DEPARTMENT

PRESS RELEASE

INCIDENT:	Sobriety and Driver’s License Checkpoint Results
DATE/TIME:	February 26, 2011 1800-0100
LOCATION:	City of Oxnard
CONTACT PERSON & CONTACT INFO:	Brian Woolley, Traffic Coordinator (805) 385-7749

DETAILS:

The Oxnard Police Department Traffic Unit conducted a multi-location sobriety and driver’s license checkpoint on Saturday, February 26, 2011, from 6:00 P.M. to 1:00 A.M.

The first checkpoint was conducted in the southbound lanes of Rose Avenue @ Ives Avenue. The second checkpoint was held in the southbound lanes of Victoria Avenue @ Gonzales Road.

Officers screened 1004 motorists who passed through the checkpoint locations and conducted two DUI investigations with drivers who had been drinking alcohol. No DUI arrests were made as these drivers were found to have alcohol levels below the legal limit of .08. A 34 year-old female driver who entered the checkpoint was arrested after she was found to have a suspended driver’s license following two prior DUI convictions. She was also in violation of failing to install a court-ordered ignition interlock device in her vehicle. Her vehicle was towed from the checkpoint.

Citations were issued to 37 drivers for various drivers’ license violations at the checkpoint. Twenty-five drivers were issued citations for driving without a valid driver’s license and two drivers were cited for driving with a suspended driver’s license. Seventeen vehicles were towed from the checkpoint.

The Oxnard Police Department will conduct several more DUI enforcement operations this year. These DUI 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) 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 brianwoolley@oxnardpd.org.

Jeri Williams
Chief of Police

Oxnard Police Department

R. Jason Benites
Assistant Chief

Scott Whitney
Assistant Chief

OXNARD POLICE DEPARTMENT

NEWS RELEASE

EVENT:	DUI/Drivers License Checkpoint in Memory of Taylor Marie Moss, this Friday.
DATE/TIME:	Friday, May 3rd, 2013 6:00 P.M. to 3:00 A.M.
LOCATION:	City of Oxnard
CONTACT PERSON & CONTACT INFO:	Derek Miller, Traffic Officer (derek.miller@oxnardpd.org) (805) 385-7600 Randy Latimer, Traffic Sergeant (randy.latimer@oxnardpd.org)

DETAILS:

Victim of DUI Collision, Taylor Marie Moss, to be Honored at Oxnard DUI/Drivers License Checkpoint Friday Night

Oxnard, CA – The Oxnard Police Department Traffic Unit will conduct a DUI/Drivers License Checkpoint on Friday, May 3rd at an undisclosed location within the city limits between the hours of 6:00 p.m. and 3:00 a.m.

This checkpoint will be held in honor of Taylor Marie Moss, a local teen who was tragically killed by a DUI driver in 2009.

Taylor’s mother, Jacquelyn Moss, said, “Taylor was an outgoing, beautiful, smart, funny, and fun-loving 19 year old college student. She had an intrinsic love for children and was studying to become an elementary school teacher with further goals of becoming a counselor for troubled teens. From the age of 16 until her death, Taylor worked at her job helping children to create their own special bears at Build-A-Bear Workshop. Taylor was a wonderful girl who truly embodied what it meant to be a kind, thoughtful, and loving person. Life, for those who loved and cherished Taylor, will never be as colorful or bright and the hole left in our hearts by the actions of the drunk driver who ended her life, will never heal.”

At 2:00 am on November 1^st, 2009, Taylor was driving home from a Halloween party with two of her friends in her car. They were driving northbound on the 101 freeway through Encino when they were struck head-on by a vehicle driving the wrong direction. Taylor tragically lost her life as a direct result of the collision. Her best friend suffered a broken arm and shattered glass in her eyes. Her other passenger sustained a broken clavicle.

The 27 year old intoxicated driver who killed Taylor was sentenced to 18 years in state prison with a mandatory 85% of that time served.

This collision and subsequent tragedy were completely preventable.

As motorists pass through the checkpoint they will see large posters of Taylor Moss and the aftermath of the collision scene that killed her. Drivers will receive a handout containing Taylor’s picture and her story. Some of Taylor’s family and friends will be present at the checkpoint in her honor.

The deterrent effect of DUI checkpoints is a proven resource in reducing the number of persons killed and injured in alcohol or drug involved crashes. Research shows that crashes involving alcohol drop by an average of 20 percent when well-publicized checkpoints are conducted often enough.

Officers will be contacting drivers passing through the checkpoint looking for signs of alcohol and/or drug impairment. Officers will also check drivers for proper licensing and will strive to delay motorists only momentarily. When possible, specially trained officers will be available to evaluate those suspected of drug-impaired driving. Drivers caught driving impaired can expect jail, license suspension, and insurance increases, as well as fines, fees, DUI classes, other expenses that can exceed $10,000.

In 2010, over 10,000 people were killed nationally in motor vehicle traffic crashes that involved at least one driver or motorcycle rider with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of .08% or higher. In California, this deadly crime led to 791 deaths because someone failed to designate a sober driver. “The DUI collision that took Taylor’s life and forever stole her from the lives of her friends and family was completely preventable,” said Officer Derek Miller.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), checkpoints have provided the most effective documented results of any of the DUI enforcement strategies, while also yielding considerable cost savings of $6 for every $1 spent. Based on collision statistics and frequency of DUI arrests, DUI Checkpoints are placed in locations that have the greatest opportunity for achieving drunk and drugged driving deterrence. Locations are chosen with safety considerations for the officers and the public.

The Oxnard Police Department will continue to honor victims of DUI related collisions during future checkpoints. The victims’ stories will continue to be told and their voices will continue to be heard. Officer Derek Miller said, “If we can change mindsets and behaviors for one night or for one weekend we have made our roadways safer for all of us.”

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 continue to work together to bring an end to these tragedies. The Oxnard Police Department would like to thank Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) and the friends and family of Taylor Marie Moss for their support and participation regarding this checkpoint operation. If you see a Drunk Driver – Call 9-1-1.

Taylor’s Senior Portrait (provided by Taylor family.)

Taylor’s Vehicle (provided by family.)

MEDIA NOTES: To schedule an interview regarding these memorial checkpoints, please contact Derek Miller at 805-385-7600 or at derek.miller@oxnardpd.org

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, October 18th, 2013 8:00 P.M. to 2:00 A.M.
LOCATION:	City of Oxnard
CONTACT PERSON & CONTACT INFO:	Jamie Brown, Traffic Coordinator (805) 385-7749

DETAILS:
On October 18^th, 2013, 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. The first checkpoint was conducted in the southbound lanes of Saviers Road at Johnson Road and the second checkpoint was conducted in the southbound lanes of “C” Street at Zion Ave.

Officers screened 373 motorists who passed through the checkpoints and conducted two DUI investigations on drivers who had been drinking alcohol and/or using drugs while driving. Of those investigations, both drivers were arrested for driving a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol, one of whom had driven through the checkpoint without stopping and was stopped by officers a few blocks away.

Citations were issued to six drivers for various vehicle code violations. Five drivers were issued citations for driving without a valid driver’s license and two vehicles were towed from the checkpoints.

The Oxnard Police Department will continue to conduct DUI enforcement operations this year. These DUI 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: 10/18/13, 0240 hours

Jeri Williams
Chief of Police

Oxnard Police Department

R. Jason Benites
Assistant Chief

Scott Whitney
Assistant Chief

OXNARD POLICE DEPARTMENT

NEWS RELEASE

INCIDENT:	245 PC – Assault with a Deadly Weapon (Firearm)
DATE/TIME:	10/22/13 at 2308 hrs
LOCATION:	200 Block of Campbell Way
VICTIM(S):	Name withheld, 16 years old
SUSPECT(S):	Unknown
PREPARED BY:	Neail Holland, Sergeant
CONTACT PERSON & CONTACT INFO:	Alex Arnett, Sergeant, (805) 486-6211

DETAILS:
On October 22, at about 2308 hours, officers were dispatched to a call of shots fired in the South Winds neighborhood. Upon arrival, they found a juvenile who sustained a single bullet wound. The juvenile was transported to the hospital with a non-life-threatening injury.

Officers learned that two vehicles drove into the area, stopped, and fired upon the unsuspecting victim while yelling their gang name. The victim attempted to flee from the gunmen but was struck by gunfire.

If anyone has information about this incident, they are encouraged to call the Oxnard Police Department at (805) 385-7740. 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.

DATE / TIME PREPARED: 10-23-13 / 0530 hours

Jeri Williams
Chief of Police

Oxnard Police Department

R. Jason Benites
Assistant Chief

Scott Whitney
Assistant Chief

OXNARD POLICE DEPARTMENT

NEWS RELEASE

INCIDENT:	Abducted 7 Year Old Reunited With Father
DATE/TIME:	March 25, 2015, 9:00 P.M.
LOCATION:	San Diego, California
VICTIM(S):	Tyler Melgoza, 7 year old
SUSPECT(S):	Jessica Melgoza, 35 years old, Oxnard Resident
PREPARED BY:	Sergeant Sharon Giles, Family Protection Unit (805) 385-7620, Sharon.Giles@Oxnardpd.org
CONTACT PERSON & CONTACT INFO:	Detective Dale Mcalpine, Family Protection Unit (805) 385-3921, Dale.McAlpine@Oxnardpd.org

DETAILS: On March 21, 2015 at 8:30 p.m., the father of 7 year old Tyler Melgoza came to the Oxnard Police Department to report that the child’s mother, Jessica Melgoza, failed to return Tyler after his court ordered overnight visitation. Jessica Melgoza was required to return Tyler to his father at 7:30 p.m. on March 21, 2015.

The Oxnard Police Department Family Protection Unit and the Ventura County District Attorney’s Office Child Abduction Unit have been working diligently to locate the whereabouts of Tyler. During the investigation, it was believed and subsequently confirmed that Jessica Melgoza had taken Tyler and fled to Mexico. Investigators began to exhaust all leads interviewing family members and asking for the public’s assistance in helping locate Tyler.

On March 25, 2015 at approximately 1:00 P.M. detectives from the Oxnard Police Department’s Family Protection Unit were able to make contact with Jessica Melgoza via phone. It was confirmed that Melgoza was in Mexico with 7 year old Tyler in the border city of Tijuana. Investigators negotiated with Jessica to safely return the child to authorities in the United States. Investigators immediately made contact with the Department of Justice to coordinate the safe passage of the mother and child across the border.

Following the phone conversation with Melgoza, detectives from the Oxnard Police Department Family Protection Unit and an investigator from the District Attorney’s Office drove 200 miles to San Diego to ensure and help secure the reunification between Tyler and his father. Within hours and with the assistance from the Department of Justice, Jessica and Tyler were escorted across the border. Tyler was immediately removed from the custody of Jessica Melgoza and taken to a nearby facility in San Diego to be examined by medical staff. Tyler was found to be unharmed.

Once Tyler’s medical examination was completed, he was released to the custody of his father, Tony Melgoza. Tony Melgoza was overwhelmed with emotion and joy to see his son again. Detectives described their own feelings as relieved and very emotional knowing that father and son were both safe in each other’s arms. Detective Dale McAlpine stated, “Its special moments like these that have the greatest impact on me and what I do every day.”

Following the tearful and joyful reunion, detectives made contact with Jessica Melgoza who was immediately served with an Emergency Protective Order restricting her from any contact with the father or child. Within five minutes of leaving the facility, Jessica violated the protective order by calling the child’s father. With the primary focus being on the safe and successful return of Tyler, Jessica Melgoza was released from custody and allowed to leave following the return of the child. The Ventura County District Attorney’s Office will be reviewing the case to determine if charges will be filed against Jessica Melgoza for child abduction and for unlawfully taking the child across international lines.

Pictures of the reunion can be found on our Facebook page.

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:	September 18, 2015 / 2000-0300 Hours
LOCATION:	City of Oxnard
PREPARED BY:	Jamie Brown, Traffic Coordinator
CONTACT PERSON & CONTACT INFO:	Senior Officer Jamie Brown (805) 385-7749 jamie.brown@oxnardpd.org

DETAILS:
On Friday, September 18, 2015, between the hours of 8:00 p.m. to 3:00 a.m., the Oxnard Police Department Traffic Unit will be conducting a multiple location DUI/Driver’s License Checkpoint at undisclosed locations within the city limits.

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.

The Oxnard Police Department wants to remind all drivers to think before you drive and if you choose to drink, don’t drive. So far this year, Oxnard Police officers have arrested over 375 drivers for driving while under the influence of alcohol, drugs or under the combined influence of alcohol and drugs. In addition, officers have investigated over 150 impaired driving collisions causing injuries to over 100 people.

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 Drivers – Call 9-1-1.’

DATE / TIME PREPARED: September 17, 2015 / 1700 hours

GET HOME SAFELY FOR THE HOLIDAYS BY BUCKLING UP

Oxnard, Calif. – Make sure everyone in the family gets home safely this holiday season by buckling your seat belt every trip, day and night. That’s the message that the Oxnard Police Department is telling drivers as part of the 2009 holiday Click It or Ticket mobilization, November 17 – 30. Officers will be out in force looking for anyone – driver, passenger or child – not properly restrained.

Given the years of public awareness campaigns, including hundreds of Click It or Ticket highway signs, no warnings will be given out. The Click It or Ticket campaign relies on heavy enforcement and education as a means to help save lives on California’s roadways.

“There is absolutely no question that seat belts save lives,” said John Crombach, Oxnard Chief of Police. “Buckling up will not only save you a heavy fine, it can also save your life.”

Currently California has a seat belt usage rate of 95.4 percent, but that still means over 1.5 million people in the state are not buckling up. Properly restrained drivers, passengers and children have a 50 percent better chance of surviving a crash than unbelted occupants. Those ejected from vehicles in crashes or roll-overs are up to 35 times more likely to die than restrained occupants.

“There are no excuses. Nothing is worth risking the lives of you or your family,” said Christopher J. Murphy, Director of the California Office of Traffic Safety. “This should be the season of joy and thanksgiving, not tragedy.”

More than 175 local law enforcement agencies statewide and the CHP will be participating in this year’s Click It or Ticket mobilization. Funding to support California’s Click It or Ticket campaign was provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

OXNARD POLICE DEPARTMENT

PRESS RELEASE

INCIDENT:	Carjacking
DATE/TIME:	12/16/09 at approximately 2020 hours
LOCATION:	600 block of West Hueneme Road
SUSPECT/S:	White or light skinned Hispanic female, 25-30 years old, heavy build, blonde hair, brown eyes wearing a black jacket with a fur collar
VICTIM VEHICLE:	White 1998 Nissan Sentra CA license # 4AYN489
PREPARED BY:	Sergeant Christopher Williams

DETAILS:

On 12/16/09 at approximately 2020 hours officers were dispatched to a carjacking that had just occurred in the 600 block of West Hueneme Road. When officers arrived they contacted the victim. The victim told officers that he exited his vehicle to go into a local eating establishment when the suspect approached him and the victim’s passenger. The suspect brandished a weapon and ordered the victim to move away from the vehicle. The suspect entered the vehicle and drove away.

The victim’s vehicle is described as a white 1998 Nissan Sentra (CA license # 4AYN489). The suspect is described as being a White or light skinned Hispanic female, 25-30 years old, heavy build, blonde hair, brown eyes wearing a black jacket with a fur collar.

If you see this vehicle or suspect please contact the Oxnard Police Department immediately by calling 911. Do not attempt to stop or detain the occupants. Anyone with information regarding this incident can contact Detective Roger Garcia at (805) 385-7688 or leave a message on the Violent Crimes Hotline at 982-7070.

An investigation is continuing.