John Crombach Chief of Police

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

OXNARD POLICE DEPARTMENT

PRESS RELEASE

INCIDENT:	Suspect arrested for vehicle burglary
DATE/TIME:	March 23, 2010
LOCATION:	Channel Islands Blvd. / Statham Blvd.
VICTIM(S):	Name withheld
SUSPECT(S):	Efrain Hernandez
WITNESS(ES):	N/A
SUSPECT VEHICLE(S):	N/A
LOSS:	Property valued at approximately $200
PREPARED BY:	Sgt. Marc Amon
CONTACT PERSON & CONTACT INFO:	Det. Luis Mancha (805) 385-7667

DETAILS:

On 3-23-10 at approximately 4:40pm, officers from the Oxnard Police Department’s Special Enforcement Unit identified a wanted subject walking in the area of Channel Islands Boulevard and Statham Boulevard. The subject was identified as 25 year-old Oxnard resident Efrain Hernandez who was wanted for a vehicle burglary that occurred in February 2010.

Hernandez was identified by a fingerprint he left at the scene that was later compared with the statewide database. Hernandez is believed to have been responsible for several other vehicle burglaries in the south Oxnard area however the investigations are continuing.

Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to contact Detective Luis Mancha (805) 385-7667.

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
DATE/TIME:	April 14, 2010 at approximately 1840 Hours
LOCATION:	2300 Block El Dorado Avenue
VICTIM(S):	22 year old Oxnard resident
SUSPECT(S):	Hispanic male wearing all dark clothing A dark colored 4-door sedan
VICTIM VEHICLE(S):	N/A
PREPARED BY:	Senior Officer Alex Arnett

DETAILS:

On 4/14/10 at approximately 1840 hours, Oxnard police officers were dispatched to the 2300 block of El Dorado Avenue regarding a stabbing victim. When officers arrived they contacted the victim. The victim was transported to Saint John’s Hospital with superficial stab wounds and was listed in stable condition. The wounds are not life threatening.

According to the victim, he was walking in the 2300 block of El Dorado Avenue when a dark colored sedan pulled up next to him. An occupant of the vehicle contacted the victim and began to assault the victim. The occupant got back into the vehicle and was last seen fleeing the area. Investigators believe the attack was gang related.

Witnesses to the incident or anyone with information is asked to contact Detective Alex Arnett at (805) 486-6297. If you have information and wish to remain anonymous, please call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).

The investigation is ongoing.

John Crombach Chief of Police

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

OXNARD POLICE DEPARTMENT

PRESS RELEASE

INCIDENT:	Serious Injury Vehicle Collision
DATE/TIME:	Thursday, April 29, 2010 @ 1505 hours
LOCATION:	Kamala Street and Lassen Street
VICTIM(S):	6 year old male, Resident of Oxnard
DRIVER:	Omar Robles Venegas, 27 years of age, Resident of Oxnard
VEHICLE #1:	Blue 2002 Ford SUV
CONTACT PERSON & CONTACT INFO:	Senior Officer Maria Peña, Traffic Collision Investigator

DETAILS:

On Thursday, April 29, 2010, at about 1505 hours, officers from the Oxnard Police Department along with EMS personnel responded to a vehicle versus a pedestrian injury collision, at the intersection of Kamala Street and Lassen Street. When officers arrived, they discovered that a blue 2002 Ford Explorer had collided with a 6 years old boy. Upon making contact with the child, officers found that he, had sustained head injuries as a result of the collision. He was transported to St. John’s Regional Medical Center and later transported to Cedars Sinai Medical Center.

The preliminary investigation showed that the blue Ford SUV, driven by Mr. Omar Venegas, was traveling westbound on Kamala Street towards Lassen Street. The 6 year old pedestrian was on the north curb of Kamala Street in the area of Lassen Street. For unknown reasons, the child ran southbound into the street directly in front of the Ford SUV. Mr. Venegas swerved in an attempt to avoid striking the child but was unable to avoid the collision.

Investigators suspect that the pedestrian may have been running across the street where an ice cream truck was located.

The driver sustained no injuries as a result of the collision. The 6 year old child sustained a fractured skull, internal bleeding, damage to the spleen, multiple contusions and abrasions, and possible bruising to the brain,. The 6 year old child was listed in critical condition.

The Oxnard Police Department is requesting the public’s assistance. If you witnessed the collision or have any additional information, please contact the traffic investigator, Senior Officer Maria Peña, at 805-385-7750.

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:	2010 Click It or Ticket mobilization
DATE/TIME:	May 24 – June 6
LOCATION:	Statewide
CONTACT PERSON & CONTACT INFO:	Randy Latimer, Traffic Sergeant (805) 385-7847

BUCKLE UP DAY AND NIGHT
Seat Belt Ticket Increases to $142

If you’re planning to hit the road for a late spring or early summer getaway, be sure that everyone in the car wears their seat belt on every trip, day and night. The Oxnard Police Department along with Law enforcement throughout the state will be looking for unbelted drivers and passengers as part of the 2010 Click It or Ticket mobilization, May 24 – June 6. This year, fines and fees have increased from $132 to $142 for first time adult seat belt violations. For children under 16, the fine is now $445 for a first time offense.

“Keep your friends and family safe by buckling up no matter where you’re going,” said Police Chief John Crombach. “We will be looking for motorists throughout the area who are not buckling up, day and night. It’s not just about avoiding a ticket; it’s about keeping the ones you care about alive.”

Seat belt violators will receive citations – no warnings. The Click It or Ticket campaign relies on heavy enforcement and public education as a means to help save lives on California’s roadways.

“Wearing a seat belt is just simply the easiest and most effective thing you can do on the road to protect yourself and your family,” said Christopher J. Murphy, Director of the California Office of Traffic Safety. “That means buckling up day and night, on every trip.”

More than 600 permanent Click It or Ticket highway signs, which have been up since 2005, will be updated to reflect the new ‘Minimum $142’ in the coming months.

Currently Oxnard has a seat belt usage rate of 96 percent and statewide the usage rate is 95.3 percent, but that still means over half a million people 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.

More than 150 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.

John Crombach Chief of Police

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

OXNARD POLICE DEPARTMENT

PRESS RELEASE

INCIDENT:	Vehicle pursuit
DATE/TIME:	7-24-10 / 4:00 PM
LOCATION:	Jasmine & Elder Streets, Oxnard
VICTIM(S):	Camarillo resident
SUSPECT(S):	Conrad Moraga , Male, 32 years of age
WITNESS(ES):	N/A
SUSPECT VEHICLE(S):	White 2008 Ford Edge (stolen from the City of Camarillo)
LOSS:	Recovered stolen vehicle
PREPARED BY:	Sgt. Keller, Oxnard P.D. Watch Commander
CONTACT PERSON & CONTACT INFO:	Detective Pat Dolan 385-7755

DETAILS:

Oxnard Police located an unoccupied stolen vehicle in the area of Jasmine and Elder Streets in Oxnard. The vehicle was a White Ford Edge stolen from the City of Camarillo during a residential burglary that occurred on 7-12-10. At about 4:00 PM today the suspect, later identified as Conrad Moraga, entered the stolen vehicle and drove off. A traffic stop was attempted, however Moraga led officers on a high-speed pursuit lasting about 22 minutes. Moraga drove recklessly to the City of Ventura before returning to Oxnard. The Sheriff’s helicopter was requested and arrived in time to assist with the pursuit. The pursuit ended at Gonzales and Lantana Streets in Oxnard when Moraga collided with another vehicle. He attempted to flee on foot but was apprehended at the collision scene.

There were a total of 8 collisions which occurred in several jurisdictions during the pursuit resulting in one person reporting a complaint of pain type injury. One police car was damaged as a result of one non-injury collision. The suspect was also slightly injured and taken to the emergency room prior to being booked at Ventura County Jail for felony evading, felony hit & run, parole violation and stolen vehicle possession. Anyone with information reference Moraga’s involvement in residential burglaries or stolen vehicles may call detective Pat Dolan at 385-7755.

John Crombach Chief of Police

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

OXNARD POLICE DEPARTMENT

PRESS RELEASE

INCIDENT:	Carjacking Arrest and Vehicle Pursuit
DATE/TIME:	08/16/2010 at 0154 hours
LOCATION:	Channel Islands @ Saviers Road
VICTIM(S):	Oxnard Resident (name withheld due to possible retaliation)
SUSPECT(S):	#1: Vidal Magana, 20 Year Old Oxnard Resident #2: 16 Year Old Oxnard resident(name withheld age) #3: Unidentified third suspect still at large.
WITNESS(ES):	None
PREPARED BY:	Detective Jeffrey McGreevy 805-385-7600
CONTACT PERSON & CONTACT INFO:	Detective Charles Buttell 805-385-7665

DETAILS:

On 08/16/2010 at approximately 0154 hours, a 35 year-old Oxnard resident was approached by three men. He knew one of the men and was going to give them a ride home. A suspect, who was later identified as a 16 year-old Oxnard gang member, produced a handgun and put it to the victim’s head. He demanded money from the victim while pointing a handgun at him. The victim gave them what little money he had while two other suspects threatened him with beer bottles. After the victim gave them his money, the suspects stole his Toyota Camry. The victim contacted the Police Department and the vehicle description was broadcast to patrol officers.

About 30 minutes later Oxnard police officers Patrick Blanche and his partner, Moses Martinez, found the vehicle in the area of Saviers Road and Hill Street. The officers attempted to stop the stolen Toyota Camry but it failed to yield and a vehicle pursuit was initiated. During the pursuit two men exited the car and were detained for further investigation. The driver continued to drive around South Oxnard and eventually stopped near Commercial Avenue and South Oxnard Boulevard. The pursuit lasted approximately 33 minutes. The driver surrendered and officers later located a replica .45 caliber pistol under the front seat. This is believed to be the weapon used during the robbery. The driver was found to be a 16 year-old suspected gang member and he was positively identified as the person who used the gun during the robbery. The rear passenger, Vidal Magana of Oxnard, was identified as one of the men threatening with a bottle during the robbery. Magana also has ties to an Oxnard gang. The third person who was detained during the vehicle pursuit was cleared of any involvement in the initial robbery and he was released. Vidal Magana was booked into the Ventura County Jail for robbery, carjacking, and a gang allegation. The 16 year-old driver was booked into the Ventura County Juvenile Hall for robbery, carjacking, evading arrest, and a gang allegation. The investigation is ongoing and anyone who witnessed this incident is encouraged to contact Detective Charles Buttell at (805) 385-7665 or if you wish to remain anonymous you can call the Ventura County Crime Stoppers at 800-222-TIPS.