NEWS RELEASE
DATE: March 29th, 2024 (4:44 p.m.)
SUBJECT: Vehicle Pursuit Ends with Arrests for Firearms Violations and Child Endangerment
SUSPECTS: Victor Ortiz, 19-year-old Oxnard resident
Abigail Guerrero 19-year-old Oxnard resident
Julissa Guerrero 21-year-old Oxnard resident
14-year-old Oxnard resident
LOCATION: Pleasant Valley Rd. at Rice Ave., Oxnard
CONTACT: Bakari Myers, Sergeant
(805) 797-6202 | [email protected]
On March 29th, at approximately 4:44 p.m., officers from the Oxnard Special Enforcement Unit (Gang Unit) responded to a call for service in the area of Maulhardt Rd. and Ranchita Ln. reference possible gang members in possession of handguns. The caller also mentioned that they believed the gang members were under the influence of alcohol and or drugs. The officers observed the suspected gang members leave in a vehicle and attempted a traffic stop on the vehicle as it traveled west on Pleasant Valley Rd. from Dodge Rd. The driver, later identified as Abigail Guerrero, failed to yield and a pursuit ensued. The pursuit came to a conclusion as there was heavy traffic and Guerrero was blocked in.
The right front passenger, identified as Victor Ortiz, quickly exited the vehicle and discarded a handgun while attempting to flee on foot. Ortiz was apprehended after a brief foot pursuit. The handgun was recovered and determined to be a loaded 9-millimeter, Glock, semi-automatic handgun. Ortiz, a documented criminal street gang member, was charged with felony firearms possession. Ortiz is on felony pretrial release from a previous firearm arrest from January 2024.
The driver and three additional passengers were removed from the vehicle. There was also a 1-year-old infant, sitting in a child seat that was not secured to the vehicle. There were several open alcoholic beverage containers in the vehicle and several loose deflated balloons in the vehicle. There was a loose deflated balloon in the infant seat next to the 1-year-old’s leg. Officers suspected that the balloons were used for inhaling hallucinogens. A 14-year-old juvenile passenger admitted possessing the handgun that was tossed from the vehicle. The juvenile was also charged with possession of the firearm. The 14-year-old also has a prior firearm arrest from January of 2024.
The driver, Abigail Guerrero, was charged with evading and child endangerment. Abigail is the 1-year-old’s aunt. The 1-year-old’s mother, Julissa Guerrero, was also a passenger in the vehicle. Julissa was also arrested for child endangerment.
The Oxnard Police Department’s Special Enforcement Unit is committed to reducing gang crimes and gun violence in the City of Oxnard through the strict enforcement of laws specifically targeting known, active gang members residing in the city. Anyone with information regarding this case or other criminal activity is encouraged to contact the Oxnard Police Department at (805) 385-7600, or online via the Oxnard Police Department’s website: www.oxnardpd.org, and clicking on Report Suspicious Activity. You can remain anonymous if you choose to do so. You can remain anonymous by calling the Ventura County Crime Stoppers at (800) 222-8477. You can also visit this site: www.venturacountycrimestoppers.org to submit a tip via text or email.