Jeri Williams
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
DATE/TIME:	08/04/11 1832 Hours
LOCATION:	Community Center Park-East 800 Hobson Way, Oxnard
SUSPECT(S):	S1-Hispanic male, 25-30 years old, shaved head, 5’ 8” tall, 200 lbs.
PREPARED BY:	Sergeant Christopher Williams
CONTACT PERSON & CONTACT INFO:	Detective Mike Marostica (805) 486-6228 Michael.Marostica@oxnardpd.org

DETAILS:

On 8/4/11 at approximately 1832 hours, Oxnard Police officers were dispatched to Community Center Park-East in reference to a subject brandishing a firearm. When officers arrived they contacted the victim who told them that he was at the park with a couple of friends when he was approached by a subject. The subject began a confrontation with the victim. During the confrontation the subject pulled out a handgun and pointed it at the victim.

The subject fled on foot and was seen by the victim entering a nearby residence in the 900 block of South “H” Street. Officers surrounded the residence and had the occupants exit the residence. None of the occupants were identified as the subject that had brandished the handgun at the victim.

Members of the Violent Crimes Unit responded and assisted in the investigation. A search warrant was obtained for the residence and a handgun, matching the one described by the victim, was located inside the residence. No suspects have been identified at this time and an investigation is continuing.

If anyone has information, they are encouraged to contact Det. Mike Marostica at (805) 486-6228 or remain anonymous and call the Ventura County Crime Stoppers at 1(800) 222-TIPS.

Jeri Williams
Chief of Police

Oxnard Police Department

R. Jason Benites
Assistant Chief

Scott Whitney
Assistant Chief

OXNARD POLICE DEPARTMENT

NEWS RELEASE

(Oxnard, CA)The National Insurance Crime Bureau and California Casualty Insurance support the efforts of the Ventura County Auto Theft Task Force (VENCATT) by providing a vehicle for use during surveillance operations. California Casualty provided an SUV about six years ago for Oxnard Police and members of VENCATT to use in the fight against auto theft. More than 200 stolen vehicles have been recovered and many individuals arrested for auto theft and insurance related crimes.

The task force is a joint law enforcement effort. The lead agency is the California Highway Patrol supervised by Sergeant Anne Vaught. Other members of the task force include: Oxnard Police Department, Ventura County District Attorney’s office, California Department of Motor Vehicles, Port Hueneme Police Department, Ventura Police Department and the National Insurance Crime Bureau.

The cooperation of these agencies contributed to a six percent reduction in auto theft in Ventura County from 2009 to 2010. Partnerships such as this one between law enforcement and businesses can have a positive effect on crime.

The National Insurance Crime Bureau is a non-profit organization dedicated exclusively to fighting insurance fraud and crime and is the only organization in the United States that convenes the collective resources needed to prevent, detect and deter insurance fraud and auto theft. NICB acts as a link between law enforcement and the insurance industry.

California Casualty Insurance provides home and auto insurance to affinity groups such as law enforcement, teachers, nurses and firefighters. They provided the SUV which has been in use by Oxnard PD and VENCATT for several years.

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Jeri Williams
Chief of Police

Oxnard Police Department

R. Jason Benites
Assistant Chief

Scott Whitney
Assistant Chief

OXNARD POLICE DEPARTMENT

NEWS RELEASE

INCIDENT	Arrest of murder suspect
DATE/TIME	December 8, 2011 at 7:30 p.m.
LOCATION	11300 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles
VICTIM	John Henry, 52, Oxnard resident
SUSPECT	Dominic Luiz Rice DOB 10/24/62, Oxnard resident
WITNESS
SUSPECT VEHICLE
LOSS
PREPARED BY	Detective Roger Garcia
CONTACT	Mónica Muñoz, Community Affairs Manager / PIO (805)385-7631 monica.munoz@oxnardpd.org

DETAILS

On November 26, 2011, Oxnard Police officers responded to a call regarding a deceased male in the area of Fifth Street and Harbor Boulevard in Oxnard. An autopsy of the victim, John Henry, was conducted by the Ventura County Medical Examiners Officer and his death was ruled a homicide.

Investigators with the Oxnard PD Major Crimes unit began to investigate this murder and identified 49-year-old Oxnard resident Dominic Rice as the suspect. On Wednesday,
December 7, 2011, investigators secured an arrest warrant for Rice. On Thursday,
December 8, 2011, OPD violent crimes investigators located Rice in the 11300 block of Wilshire Boulevard in Los Angeles, California. He was taken into custody without incident and was booked in the Ventura County Jail for the murder warrant.

No additional information regarding this incident will be released at this point, as the investigation into the murder of John Henry is continuing.

Anyone with information about this incident is urged to contact Detective Roger Garcia at (805) 385-7688. If you wish to remain anonymous you may contact Ventura County Crime Stoppers at (800) 222-8477 or visit their website at http://www.venturacountycrimestoppers.org/index.aspx to submit a tip via text or email.

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DATE / TIME PREPARED December 9, 2011 / 1:30 a.m.

Jeri Williams
Chief of Police

Oxnard Police Department

R. Jason Benites
Assistant Chief

Scott Whitney
Assistant Chief

OXNARD POLICE DEPARTMENT

NEWS RELEASE

INCIDENT	245(a)(1) PC Assault with a Deadly Weapon (Knife)
DATE/TIME	January 9, 2012 at 5:40 a.m. – Incident occurred January 10, 2012 at 4:45 p.m. – arrest of suspect
LOCATION	1500 Block of N. Ventura Road (apartment) – incident occurred 3500 Block of Regatta Dr. – suspect arrested
VICTIM	Robert Arzabal 36, Oxnard resident
SUSPECT	Kevin Martin Fickel 02/08/91, Oxnard resident
PREPARED BY	Detective Steven F. Funk 805-385-7796
CONTACT	Mónica Muñoz Community Affairs Manager / PIO (805) 385-7631 monica.munoz@oxnardpd.org

UPDATE: During the investigation Kevin Martin Fickel 02/08/91 was identified as the suspect who stabbed Arzabal on January 9 at Arzabal’s residence.
On January 10, at about 4:45 p.m., Oxnard PD officers located Fickel in the area of 3500 Regatta Drive and he was taken into custody. Arzabal remains at VCMC in stable condition. The exact motive for the stabbing is still part of the ongoing investigation.

Text of the original news release–
On January 9, 2012 at about 5:40 a.m. officers from the Oxnard Police Department were dispatched to the 1500 block of Ivywood Drive regarding a man who was screaming for help. Officers arrived on scene and located Robert Arzabal, 36, on the landing to his apartment. He had suffered stab wounds to various parts of his body and was transported to Ventura County Medical Center.

The suspect was last seen running from the apartment eastbound on Ivywood Dr. and then southbound on Ventura Road.

Arzabal is currently at VCMC in stable condition. The investigation is on-going as to the suspect and motive of the stabbing.

Anyone with information about this incident is encouraged to call Oxnard PD at (805) 385-7740 or Detective Steve Funk at (805) 385-7796. 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 site http://www.venturacountycrimestoppers.org/contactus.aspx to submit a tip via text or email.

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DATE / TIME PREPARED: 1/11/2012, 2 a.m.

Jeri Williams
Chief of Police

Oxnard Police Department

R. Jason Benites
Assistant Chief

Scott Whitney
Assistant Chief

OXNARD POLICE DEPARTMENT

NEWS RELEASE

INCIDENT	Rape Aggression Defense (RAD) Classes
DATE/TIME	January 26, 2012 – six weeks of classes
LOCATION	Wilson Center, 350 North C Street, Oxnard
PREPARED BY	Sgt. Ken Klopman
CONTACT PERSON	Sgt. Ken Klopman (805) 385-7625 kenklopman@oxnardpd.org

(Oxnard, CA) – The Oxnard Police Department in cooperation with Oxnard Recreation & Community Services, the Oxnard Boys & Girls Club, and the Oxnard Police Foundation is pleased to announce a
six-week series of Rape Aggression Defense (RAD) classes beginning Thursday, January 26. Classes are held at the Wilson Center, 350 North C St., Oxnard (northeast corner of Palm/C St.)

RAD is a 12-hour program of realistic, defensive tactics and techniques for women and girls ageS 12 and older. The RAD System is a comprehensive, female-only course that begins with awareness, prevention, risk reduction and risk avoidance, while progressing on to the basics of hands-on defense training. RAD is not a martial arts program. Courses are taught by nationally-certified RAD instructors and provide each student with a workbook/reference manual. This manual outlines the entire Physical Defense Program for reference and continuous personal growth, and is the key to RAD’s free lifetime return and practice policy for RAD graduates.

Classes are held on six consecutive Thursdays from 6:30-8:30 p.m. except for the introduction class on January 26 which runs one extra hour until 9:30 p.m.

January 26, 6:30-9:30 pm
February 2, 6:30-8:30 pm
February 9, 6:30-8:30 pm
February 16, 6:30-8:30 pm
February 23, 6:30-8:30 pm
March 1, 6:30-8:30 pm

Class size is limited and filled on a first-come, first-served basis. A $20 donation is recommended. Students should dress comfortably for physical activity (e.g. warm-up suit and tennis shoes). To RSVP please email kenklopman@oxnardpd.orgor call (805) 982-7020 and leave a message.

For more information about RAD Systems, visit http://rad-systems.com/.

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Jeri Williams
Chief of Police

Oxnard Police Department

R. Jason Benites
Assistant Chief

Scott Whitney
Assistant Chief

OXNARD POLICE DEPARTMENT

NEWS RELEASE

INCIDENT	Home invasion robbery
DATE/TIME	January 20, 2012 at about 10:00 a.m.
LOCATION	2300 block of El Cajon Way, Oxnard
VICTIM	Male, 28, Oxnard resident
SUSPECT(S)	Suspect #1: Hispanic male, late 20’s to early 30’s, 5-6, 160 lbs. medium complexion, white shirt with a mustache. Suspect #2: Hispanic male, late 20’s to early 30’s, 5-6, 160 lbs. burgundy shirt and clean shaven.
PREPARED BY	Detective Steven F. Funk (805) 385-7796
CONTACT	Mónica Muñoz Community Affairs Manager / PIO (805) 385-7631 monica.munoz@oxnardpd.org

On January 20, 2012 a man reported to the Oxnard Police that he was the victim of a home invasion robbery. The victim said the crime occurred at about 10 a.m. at his home on El Cajon Way. When he answered a knock at his front door, two Hispanic males threatened him with a handgun; forcing him inside the house. The two suspects tied the victim’s arms and legs and covered his head with a piece of clothing so he could not see.

The victim said the two suspects ransacked his home; taking several electronic items and cash. The suspects left through the front door but the victim doesn’t know which way they went. No suspect vehicle was observed. The victim was not injured.

Anyone with information about this incident is encouraged to call Oxnard PD at (805) 385-7740 or Detective Steve Funk at (805) 385-7796. 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 site http://www.venturacountycrimestoppers.org/contactus.aspx to submit a tip via text or email.

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DATE / TIME PREPARED: 1/20/12 3:50 p.m.

Jeri Williams
Chief of Police

Oxnard Police Department

R. Jason Benites
Assistant Chief

Scott Whitney
Assistant Chief

OXNARD POLICE DEPARTMENT

NEWS RELEASE

INCIDENT	Sobriety and Driver’s License Checkpoint
DATE/TIME	Saturday, January 28, 2012 from 7 p.m. to 3 a.m.
LOCATION	City of Oxnard
CONTACT	Senior Officer Jamie Brown, Traffic Coordinator (805) 385-7749

The Oxnard Police Department Traffic Unit will conduct a DUI/Driver’s License Checkpoint on January 28, 2012 in Oxnard between the hours of 7:00 p.m. and 3:00 a.m. DUI checkpoints are a proven enforcement tool effective in reducing the number of persons killed and injured in alcohol 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 for signs of alcohol and/or drug impairment. Officers will also check for proper licensing and will strive to delay motorists only momentarily. 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.

“Over the course of the past three years, DUI collisions have claimed18 lives and resulted in 185 injury crashes harming 267 of our friends and neighbors,” said Senior Officer Brown.

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. Checkpoints are placed in locations that have the greatest opportunity for achieving drunk and drugged driving deterrence and provide the greatest safety for officers and the public.

“Deaths from drunk and drug-impaired driving are going down in California,” said Christopher J. Murphy, Director of the California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS). “But that still means that hundreds of our friends, family and co-workers are killed each year, along with tens of thousands who are seriously injured. We must all continue to work together to bring an end to these tragedies. If you see a Drunk Driver – Call 9-1-1.”

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, targeting those who still don’t heed the message to designate a sober driver.

MEDIA NOTES:To schedule an interview regarding the Oxnard Traffic Safety Operation, please contact Senior Officer Jamie Brown at 805-385-7749 or via email at
jamie.brown@oxnardpd.org. To schedule an interview regarding impaired driving efforts and programs in California please contact Chris Cochran, California Office of Traffic Safety at (916) 509-3063 or via email at chris.cochran@ots.ca.gov.

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Jeri Williams
Chief of Police

Oxnard Police Department

R. Jason Benites
Assistant Chief

Scott Whitney
Assistant Chief

OXNARD POLICE DEPARTMENT

NEWS RELEASE

INCIDENT	Missing Alzheimer’s patient
DATE/TIME	March 21, 2012 at 8:30 a.m.
LOCATION	1500 block Martin Luther King Drive, Oxnard
VICTIM	Myron Selwyn, 80
CONTACT	Mónica Muñoz Community Affairs Manager / PIO (805) 385-7631 monica.munoz@oxnardpd.org

Update
At 7:10 a.m., missing person, Myron Selwyn, was located at the shopping center in the area of Rose Avenue and Gonzales Road. Selwyn was not injured or in distress. He was taken back to his residence and where he is being cared for by staff at the facility.

Text of original news release
The Oxnard Police Department is currently conducting a search for a critical missing 80 year old man who suffers from Alzheimer’s disease. At 2:35 a.m., the man was reported missing from a care home in the 1500 block of Martin Luther King Drive. The man is Myron Selwyn. He is described as a white male, 6’3’ 180 lbs, with grey hair, and brown eyes. He is wearing a blue short-sleeved shirt and jeans, but no jacket. It is not known if Selwyn is wearing any shoes.

The Oxnard PD is particularly concerned for the Selwyn’s well being because of his level of dementia, and the fact that he is not properly dressed for the cold weather conditions.

If anyone locates Selwyn, they are asked to call 911 immediately.

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Jeri Williams
Chief of Police

Oxnard Police Department

R. Jason Benites
Assistant Chief

Scott Whitney
Assistant Chief

OXNARD POLICE DEPARTMENT

NEWS RELEASE

INCIDENT	Minor injury collision involving bicyclist
DATE/TIME	April 23, 2012 at 7:43 p.m.
LOCATION	Rose Avenue & Cesar Chavez Drive
CONTACT	Mónica Muñoz Community Affairs Manager / PIO (805) 385-7631 monica.munoz@oxnardpd.org

(Oxnard, CA) On Monday, April 23, 2012 at about 7:45 p.m. Oxnard PD officers responded to the intersection of Cesar Chavez Drive and Rose Avenue in Oxnard. A 16-year-old male resident of Oxnard was hit while riding his bike in the north crosswalk of the intersection.

According to witnesses, the teen was traveling east, across the north side of the intersection against a red light. A woman in a 2007 Honda Accord was traveling north on Rose Avenue and hit the bicyclist. The teen was taken to Ventura County Medical Center by ambulance. He suffered minor injuries. The driver of the Honda was not injured in the collision.

Neither drugs nor alcohol are factors in this collision.

This is the second crash involving teenaged bicyclists in Oxnard in the past three weeks. In both crashes, the bicyclists violated the right-of-way of cars. Fortunately, in this most recent crash, the teen was not seriously injured. In the crash that occurred on April 4 at Saviers Road and Fir Avenue, the teen suffered very serious injuries. It’s very important for bicyclists to use caution when traveling the roadways with cars and in no case is it appropriate for bicyclists to cross streets against red lights or ride out into traffic lanes.

Anyone with information about this crash is encouraged to call Oxnard PD at (805) 385-7740 or Senior Officer Maria Peña at (805) 385-7750. If you wish to remain anonymous you may call Ventura County Crime Stoppers at (800) 222-8477. You can also visit this site http://www.venturacountycrimestoppers.org/contactus.aspx to submit a tip via text or email.

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Jeri Williams
Chief of Police

Oxnard Police Department

R. Jason Benites
Assistant Chief

Scott Whitney
Assistant Chief

OXNARD POLICE DEPARTMENT

NEWS RELEASE

INCIDENT	Attempted armed robbery
DATE/TIME	May 11, 2012 at 8:40 p.m.
LOCATION	714 N. Ventura Road, Gold & Jewelry Emporium
SUSPECT	Edward John Green, 27, Oxnard resident
CONTACT	Mónica Muñoz Community Affairs Manager / PIO (805) 385-7631 monica.munoz@oxnardpd.org

On May 11, 2012, at about 8:40 p.m., Oxnard PD officers were dispatched to an armed robbery that occurred at the Gold & Jewelry Emporium located at 714 North Ventura Road. When officers arrived they contacted the store employee who said that a white male entered the store armed with a handgun. The suspect demanded money from the cash register. The employee fled the store, leaving the suspect inside the business. According to the surveillance cameras, the suspect later left the business without any money. The employee was not injured during the incident.

During the course of the investigation, the suspect was identified as Edward Green, a 27 year old Oxnard resident. On May 12, 2012, members of the Special Enforcement Unit (SEU) were able to locate Green in the area of “H” Street and Gonzales Road. They took Green into custody without incident. Members of the Violent Crimes Unit (VCU) wrote a search warrant for Green’s residence where several items of evidentiary value were seized.

Anyone with information about this incident is encouraged to call Oxnard PD at (805) 385-7740 or Detective Steve Funk at (805) 385-7796. 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 site http://www.venturacountycrimestoppers.org/contactus.aspx to submit a tip via text or email.