 Jeri Williams Chief of Police |
Oxnard Police Department
R. Jason Benites Scott Whitney |
OXNARD POLICE DEPARTMENT
NEWS RELEASE
| INCIDENT: | Two Recent Investigations Result In Lengthy Prison Sentences |
| DATE/TIME: | October 2014 |
| LOCATION: |
100 block of North Harrison Avenue, Oxnard Bank of the West, 300 block of West Esplanade Drive, Oxnard |
| VICTIM(S): | N/A |
| SUSPECT(S): |
Eric Rodriguez, 37-year old Oxnard resident Donald Fulton, 45-year old Oxnard resident |
| PREPARED BY: |
Eric S. Sonstegard, Commander Investigative Services Bureau |
|
CONTACT PERSON & CONTACT INFO: |
Commander Eric S. Sonstegard (805) 385-7801 [email protected] |
DETAILS:
The Oxnard Police Department maintains an investigative unit titled the Violent Crimes Unit (VCU) which has nine (9) investigators assigned full-time to investigate robberies, violent assaults, and all gang-related crimes. These investigators regularly work up to seven days a week to identify and arrest some of the most violent individuals in our city. Their hard work and dedication has led to hundreds of arrests over the past few years. In particular, two (2) recent cases shed a spotlight on their diligence and quest for justice.
- In March of 2012, a stabbing occurred in the 100 block of North Harrison Avenue. The victim of the stabbing was rushed to Saint John’s Hospital with a serious stab wound to his abdomen. The victim survived the stabbing, but refused to cooperate with police officers and investigators. During the course of the investigation, VCU investigators obtained information from various sources that the suspect in the stabbing was Eric Rodriguez, a 37-year old Oxnard resident. However, the victim and witnesses to the stabbing refused to cooperate with the police investigation. Although investigators faced many challenges in this case, they were able to gather enough evidence to officially arrest Rodriguez. Rodriguez was charged with assault with a deadly weapon, with a special allegation that the crime was committed for the benefit of a criminal street gang.
A three-day jury trial took place in June of 2014. At the conclusion of the trial, it only took the jury approximately 90 minutes to return with a guilty verdict. On October 10th, Rodriguez was sentenced to 86 years to life in state prison.
- On March 20, 2014, the Bank of the West located in the 300 block of West Esplanade Drive was the victim of a robbery in which the suspect passed a note to a bank teller and asked for money or he would detonate an explosive device in his backpack. He was able to flee the bank with over $2,000 in U.S. currency. A short time later, a nearby business manager as well as a customer at In-n-Out Burger contacted officers and advised that they had found property in a parking lot which may have belonged to the robbery suspect. VCU investigators responded to the scene and began conducting an investigation. They were able to identify the suspect as Donald Fulton, a 45-year old Oxnard resident. A patrol officer familiar with Fulton started searching the area and located him walking in the area. Fulton was found with over $1,400 in U.S. currency in his pockets and was identified by several witnesses at the bank.
Earlier this month, Fulton pled guilty to the robbery and was sentenced to eleven (11) years in state prison. This was Fulton’s second bank robbery conviction.
These are just two examples of the hard work and dedication of the officers with the Oxnard Police Department. They are also continuing examples of what can be accomplished with a collaborative effort between our community members, the Police Department, and the District Attorney’s office.
DATE / TIME PREPARED: 10/20/14 at 1200 Hours