John Crombach Chief of Police

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

OXNARD POLICE DEPARTMENT

PRESS RELEASE

INCIDENT:	ARREST OF JANE LAUT
DATE/TIME:	2-13-2010 @ 9:30 am
LOCATION:	Near the intersection of 3rd and F Streets
VICTIM(S):	David Laut, 52 of Oxnard – murdered 8/28/09
SUSPECT(S):	Jane Laut, 52 of Oxnard
WITNESS(ES):
SUSPECT VEHICLE(S):
LOSS:
PREPARED BY:	David Keith, OPD PIO
CONTACT PERSON & CONTACT INFO:	David Keith @ 385-7631

DETAILS: 

John Crombach Chief of Police

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

OXNARD POLICE DEPARTMENT

PRESS RELEASE

INCIDENT:	Sobriety and Drivers License Checkpoint
DATE/TIME:	February 19th, 2010 1800-0200
LOCATION:	City of Oxnard
CONTACT PERSON & CONTACT INFO:	Brian Woolley, Traffic Coordinator (805) 385-7749

DETAILS:

The Oxnard Police Department will be conducting its second of three multi-location sobriety and drivers license checkpoints this month on Friday night, February 19th, 2010, from 6:00 P.M. to 2:00 A.M. The checkpoint will be held throughout the City of Oxnard and is funded by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

From the beginning of 2010, the Oxnard Police department has arrested over 125 drivers for DUI and has investigated 30 DUI related crashes.

The Oxnard Police Department will conduct additional DUI checkpoints at various locations on Friday, February 26th, from 6:00 P.M. to 2:00 A.M. All of these 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.

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.

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 Ends in Crash — Two Arrested
DATE/TIME:	3-4-10 / 1913 hours
LOCATION:	1000 block of W. Juniper Street, Oxnard
SUSPECT(S):	Ernesto Nieto, 25 years, of Oxnard Octavio Salgado, 28 years, of Oxnard
PREPARED BY:	Sergeant Tim Kelley

DETAILS:

On 3-4-10 at 7:13 P.M. officers from the Oxnard Police Department observed a suspicious vehicle in the 1000 block of West Juniper Street. Upon seeing the approaching police cars, the suspicious vehicle fled from the area driving the wrong way on the two-lane road.

Officers initiated a brief pursuit of the fleeing vehicle until the suspect car crashed into a parked vehicle in the 1400 block of W. Guava Street. Both occupants fled from their car. The driver (Salgado) was detained near the scene of the crash. The passenger (Nieto) was located in the backyard of a nearby residence.

Both subjects were booked into the Ventura County Jail—Nieto for violation of parole and Salgado for driving under the influence of alcohol, felony evading and misdemeanor hit and run. Neither of the subjects was injured in the crash.

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:	Specialized Enforcement Detail Nets 9 Drunk Drivers
DATE/TIME:	March 6, 2010 / 8:00 P.M. – 3:00 A.M.
LOCATION:	Downtown Oxnard
PREPARED BY:	Officer James Langford

DETAILS: 

A directed patrol of downtown Oxnard late Friday night into early Saturday morning resulted in the arrest of 9 drivers for suspicion of driving under the influence (DUI) of alcohol and/or drugs.

During the seven-hour operation, Oxnard officers assigned to the Central Business District deployed throughout Oxnard’s downtown area with a specific focus on impaired driving. In addition to the 9 drivers arrested for DUI, one additional person was arrested on a miscellaneous charge, and five citations were issued for various infractions. Additionally, 10 vehicles were towed because of arrests made or for driver license infractions and the owners of the vehicles will face a minimum tow fee of $494.00

The Oxnard Police Department will continue conducting DUI enforcement in 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. The saturations are funded by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) through the National Highway Transportation 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 and gang members in possession of firearm
DATE/TIME:	April 12, 2010/1600 hours
LOCATION:	Channel Islands Blvd and Ventura Road
VICTIM(S):	None
SUSPECT(S):	Manuel Cortez, 26 year old male, Oxnard resident Eric Hartman, 31 year old male, Oxnard resident
WITNESS(ES):
VICTIM VEHICLE(S):	N/A
LOSS:
PREPARED BY:	Sergeant Bill Crisostomo
CONTACT PERSON & CONTACT INFO:

DETAILS: 

On April 12, 2010 at approximately 1600 hours, Officers from the Oxnard Police Department Special Enforcement Unit attempted to conduct a traffic stop on a 2007 silver Pontiac Vibe in the area of Ventura Road and Channel Islands Blvd. The driver, Manuel Cortez failed to yield and a vehicle pursuit ensued. At the termination of the pursuit, Cortez and a male passenger, Eric Hartman, fled from the vehicle on foot. As they fled they discarded a loaded 9mm machine pistol. Hartman was taken into custody after a brief foot chase and Cortez was taken into custody after being found in hiding in a trashcan during an area search.

Eric Hartman was arrested for possession of weapon, resisting arrest and violation of the gang injunction. Manuel Cortez was arrested for felony vehicle evasion, being under the influence of a controlled substance and violation of parole.

Both subjects are gang members and were later booked into the Ventura County Jail.

John Crombach Chief of Police

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

OXNARD POLICE DEPARTMENT

PRESS RELEASE

INCIDENT:	Arrest of Hit and Run Fatal Collision Suspect
DATE/TIME:	Thursday, April 22, 2010 at 0940 hours
LOCATION:	Hemlock Street and M Street
VICTIM(S):	Daloris Galiney, 56 years, Resident of Oxnard
SUSPECT(S):	Clifford Bernard McLucas, 52 years, Resident of Oxnard
PREPARED BY:	Senior Officer Maria Peña, Traffic Collision Investigator

DETAILS:

On April 22, 2010, at 0940 hours, Clifford Bernard McLucas, a 52 year old resident of Oxnard, was arrested for vehicular manslaughter and felony hit and run in connection with the December 23, 2009, traffic collision death of Daloris Galiney.

The collision investigation revealed that a van, driven by McLucas, was traveling eastbound on Hemlock Street from Ventura Road. For an unknown reason, the van veered into the opposing lane of traffic and struck two parked vehicles causing the van to overturn, injuring McLucas and causing mortal injuries to his passenger, Ms. Galiney. McLucas fled the scene after the collision and was later interviewed by investigators and was determined to be the driver.

He was arrested while in custody at the Ventura County Jail on an unrelated charge.

John Crombach Chief of Police

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

OXNARD POLICE DEPARTMENT

PRESS RELEASE

INCIDENT:	Road closures for the 27th Annual Strawberry Festival
DATE/TIME:	May 15th and 16th 2010, 0800 – 2000 hours
LOCATION:	College Park, Oxnard
VICTIM(S):
SUSPECT(S):
WITNESS(ES):
SUSPECT VEHICLE(S):
LOSS:
PREPARED BY:
CONTACT PERSON & CONTACT INFO:	Senior Officer Brian Woolley Traffic Coordinator (805) 385-7749

DETAILS: 

The 27th annual Strawberry Festival will be held this weekend, May 15th and 16th, at College Park. Over the past several years, the festival has experienced crowds totaling 70,000 over the two day event.

In an attempt to accommodate the anticipated heavy attendance at this year’s Strawberry Festival, the Oxnard Police Traffic Unit will have officers and additional traffic control personnel assigned to several intersections surrounding the festival site. There will be some road closures and detours to allow for safe and efficient vehicular and pedestrian travel to and from the festival.

The recommended method of transportation to the Strawberry Festival is via the shuttle bus service. Shuttle buses will be picking up festival goers at the following locations:

1. Camarillo Premium Outlets, 740 E. Ventura Boulevard, Camarillo
2. Channel Islands Harbor, 3400 block South Harbor Blvd., Oxnard
3. Centerpoint Mall, 2655 Saviers Road, Oxnard
4. Oxnard Transportation Center, 201 E. Fourth Street, Oxnard
5. The Palms (Oxnard Outlet Mall), 2000 Outlet Center Drive, Oxnard

The following roadways will be affected by this weekend’s festival:

Rose Avenue
Rose Avenue between Channel Islands Boulevard and Bard Road will be closed to all non-festival traffic from 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM on both festival days.

Pleasant Valley Road between Butler Road and Bard Road
Pleasant Valley Road, between Butler Road and Bard Road will be affected by heavy traffic from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM on both festival days.

Bard Road between Pleasant Valley Road and Rose Avenue
Bard Road, between Pleasant Valley Road and Rose Avenue, will be affected by heavy traffic from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM on both festival days.

Gary Drive
Gary Drive, between Boston Way and Rose Avenue, will be closed to all traffic from 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM on both festival days.

In addition to these closures, traffic near the festival site will be heavy. Local residents are encouraged to use alternate routes for trips in and out of the city.

For Further Information regarding road closures, contact Senior Officer Brian Woolley at 385-7749. For further information regarding the festival go to: www.strawberry-fest.org.

 

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 arrest
DATE/TIME:	5-21-10/ 0725
LOCATION:	1200 Block W. Cedar Street Oxnard, Ca
VICTIM(S):	18 Year old Oxnard resident (name withheld for possible gang retaliation)
SUSPECT(S):	17 year old Oxnard Resident
SUSPECT VEHICLE(S):	None
PREPARED BY:	Detective Jeff McGreevy
CONTACT PERSON & CONTACT INFO:	Detective Jeff McGreevy (805)385-3982

DETAILS:

On 5-21-10 around 0725 hours, Oxnard Police Officers were dispatched to the 1200 block of West Cedar Street regarding an assault with a metal pipe. The victim provided a description of the suspect and a responding officer located a 17 year old male Oxnard resident that matched the physical description nearby.

The investigation revealed that there had been prior disputes between the parties and the suspect challenged the victim and shouted gang slogans. The suspect attacked the victim and struck him at least once with a metal pipe causing a non-life threatening injury.

The 17 Year old male juvenile was booked into the Ventura County Juvenile Hall for Assault with a deadly weapon and a gang allegation. Investigators from the Violent Crimes Unit are asking anyone who may have witnessed this incident to contact Detective Jeff McGreevy (805) 385-3982.

This is an ongoing investigation.

John Crombach Chief of Police

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

OXNARD POLICE DEPARTMENT

PRESS RELEASE

INCIDENT:	Armed Robbery Person
DATE/TIME:	1-10-2010 0600 hours
LOCATION:	Edgewood and M St., Oxnard CA
VICTIM(S):	Name Withheld
SUSPECT(S):	Juan Lopez 28 years, Oxnard Resident Manuel Morales 18 years, Oxnard Resident
WITNESS(ES):	N/A
SUSPECT VEHICLE(S):	N/A
LOSS:	U.S. Currency undisclosed amount
PREPARED BY:	Sergeant Terry Burr
CONTACT PERSON & CONTACT INFO:	Detective Chip Buttell 385-7665 / charlesbuttell@oxnardpd.org

DETAILS:

On 7-10-2010 at approximately 0600 hours, Oxnard Police Officers responded to a robbery that occurred in the area of Edgewood and M St. in the city of Oxnard. The victim told the officers that he was parked and seated in his vehicle with some friends, when the two suspects approached and demanded money from the victim. One of the suspects later identified as suspect Lopez was armed with a knife. The victim handed over his money, and the suspects fled the area.

While officers were checking the area, they stopped a car for a vehicle code violation that contained four subjects. Two of the subjects in the vehicle matched the description of the suspects in the robbery, so an in-field line up was conducted. The two suspects were identified as the suspects who committed the robbery and were subsequently arrested. A loaded handgun was located in the vehicle next to Suspect Morales, who was subsequently charged with gun possession and possession of an unregistered firearm. Both suspects associate with a known Oxnard gang.

An investigation is continuing. The victim and witnesses names are not being released at this time due to a concern of gang retaliation.

Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to contact Detective Chip Buttell at 385-7665 or email him at charlesbuttell@oxnardpd.org.

Juan Lopez	Manuel Morales