Jeri Williams
Chief of Police

Oxnard Police Department

R. Jason Benites
Assistant Chief

Scott Whitney
Assistant Chief

OXNARD POLICE DEPARTMENT

NEWS RELEASE

INCIDENT	Fireworks and DUI enforcement
DATE/TIME	Now through July 4, 2012
CONTACT	Mónica Muñoz Community Affairs Manager / PIO (805) 385-7631 [email protected]

(Oxnard, CA) In anticipationof the July 4, 2012 holiday,Oxnard police officers will enforce the ban on fireworks in Oxnard. Anyone possessing, storing, selling, using, transporting or handling any type of fireworks is subject to criminal arrest or may be issued a civil citation with a fine of up to $1,000.

This year Oxnard PD has two ways to report fireworks in advance of the holiday. You may call the fireworks hotline at (805) 982-7141 or send an email to [email protected].
Please include the exact address where the fireworks are being used. If you have the name of the resident who is using fireworks, you may provide that information as well. It is not necessary for you to leave your name and phone number if you do not wish to do so.

In response to your tip, Oxnard PD will issue warnings to residents by mail, in person or by phone in an effort to prevent illegal fireworks activity in the days leading up to and including the Independence Day holiday.
On July 4, residents are encouraged to report fireworks activity by calling the Oxnard PD Communications Center at (805) 385-7740. Please be prepared to tell the dispatcher as much information about the fireworks activity as possible including the location or the general area where the fireworks are coming from.

DUI SATURATION PATROL
In addition, there will be a team of officers conducting a saturation patrol around the city of Oxnard on July 4. Motorists are reminded to use designated drivers or taxis instead of driving. The funding for this saturation patrol is provided by the California Office of Traffic Safety.

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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	Fourth of July enforcement statistics
CONTACT	Mónica Muñoz Community Affairs Manager / PIO (805) 385-7631 [email protected]

(Oxnard, CA) The Oxnard Police and Fire Communications Center received a total of 350 – 911 calls on July 4. The busiest hour was between 8 p.m. and 9 p.m. with 42 – 911 calls received during that hour.

There were no fireworks related injuries reported to Oxnard PD or Oxnard Fire. There were a total of 73 police calls for service related to fireworks. A total of 23 citations were written for fireworks related offenses. About 40 pounds of fireworks were confiscated and turned over to OFD for safe disposal.

There were a total of 16 arrests made on July 4, which included three arrests for DUI. None of the arrests was related to fireworks.

Each year Oxnard PD partners with many local media organizations to share the message of safety and zero tolerance when it comes to fireworks in the city of Oxnard. In addition, many messages are posted on our Twitter and Facebook pages. Our primary goal is the safety of the public and we are pleased that the local Independence Day celebrations did not include injuries.

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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	Serious injury bicycle crash
DATE/TIME	Monday, July 16 at 8:22 p.m.
LOCATION	F Street and Palm Drive, Oxnard
VICTIM	16-year-old male, Oxnard resident
CONTACT	Mónica Muñoz Community Affairs Manager / PIO (805) 385-7631 [email protected]

(Oxnard, CA) On July 16, 2012, at about 8:22 p.m., Oxnard PD officers responded to F Street south of Palm Drive after receiving a call of a hit and run traffic collision involving a bicycle. Officers and emergency medical services personnel found an unconscious bicyclist in the southbound lane of F Street. The bicyclist was transported to Ventura County Medical Center with serious injuries.

Preliminary investigation indicates that the bicyclist was traveling southbound on F Street from Palm Drive. For unknown reasons, the bicyclist lost control and fell to the ground striking his head. The bicyclist was not wearing a helmet at the time of the collision. During the investigation, it was determined that there were no other vehicles involved. He was in serious condition.

It is suspected that alcohol or drugs are a factor in this collision.

Bicyclists are reminded to wear a safety helmet when operating a bicycle. Wearing a safety helmet can help reduce head injury if involved in a traffic collision.

If anyone has information about this collision please contact Senior Officer Maria Peña at 805-385-7750.

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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	Sexual assault
DATE/TIME	Sunday, July 16 at 11:30 p.m.
LOCATION	Ben’s Laundromat 501 Cooper Road, Oxnard
VICTIM	31-year-old female, Oxnard resident
SUSPECT	Hispanic male, 15 – 18 years old
CONTACT	Mónica Muñoz Community Affairs Manager / PIO (805) 385-7631 [email protected]

(Oxnard, CA) On Sunday July 15, 2012 at about 11:30 p.m., Oxnard police officers were dispatched to Ben’s Laundromat located at 501 Cooper Road in Oxnard regarding a sexual assault committed against a 31-year-old adult female.

The female told officers that she had been inside the laundromat near closing time when a Hispanic male entered the business and sexually assaulted her. Surveillance cameras captured the assault on video. The suspect fled the scene but was described as a Hispanic male, 15 to 18 years old, with short black hair, wearing a blue short-sleeve t-shirt and black shorts.

Anyone with information about this incident is encouraged to call Oxnard PD at (805) 385-7740 or Detective Luis McArthur at (805) 385-7662. 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	National Night Out event sponsored by Target
DATE/TIME	Tuesday, August 7 from 4 to 7 p.m.
LOCATION	Target parking lot – 2850 N. Oxnard Blvd.

(Oxnard, CA) The Oxnard Police Department, in partnership with Target Stores, will hold the first annual National Night Out on Tuesday, August 7 from 4 to 7 p.m. The event will take place at the Oxnard Target parking lot at 2850 North Oxnard Boulevard.

This event is sponsored by Target and is a national program with one-of-a-kind neighborhood outreach that brings neighbors and residents together in support of safer communities. NNO is celebrated in more than 13,000 neighborhoods across the country.

Come out to meet members of the following Oxnard PD teams: K-9, Traffic, S.W.A.T., dive team, and recruiting. See the DRAGG car (Drag Racing Against Gangs and Graffiti) and meet OPD Explorers and beat coordinators. Receive crime prevention information and learn about VC Alert – the emergency notification system for our county. The Oxnard Fire Department and the Hazmat Unit will be in attendance as well.

Also enjoy giveaways for the children, refreshments and snacks by the Oxnard Police Activities League (PAL) and kids should bring a helmet and skateboard to use the mobile skate park.

B95.1 FM radio personality Bo Jaxson will be there to provide music and entertainment.

For more information about National Night Out visit www.nationalnightout.org/nno

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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:	Injury Collision
DATE/TIME:	8-9-12/2016 Hours
LOCATION:	Vineyard Avenue at Simon Way
VICTIM(S):	73-year old male-name withheld
LOSS:	Minor head injuries
PREPARED BY:	Marty Meyer, Commander/Jack Kujawa, Sergeant
CONTACT PERSON & CONTACT INFO:	Alex Rangel, (805) 385-7631

DETAILS:
On 8-9-12, at 2016 hours, officers responded to the intersection of Vineyard Avenue at Simon Way re: a possible injury hit-and-run collision. A semi tractor and trailer travelling at a slow rate of speed collided with another vehicle. The truck drove off. A motorist who had witnessed the collision followed the semi as it travelled onto Highway 101. The motorist was able to get the truck driver’s attention and advise what had occurred. The truck driver was returning to the scene when CHP unit intercepted the big rig.

Officers determined the truck driver was unaware of the collision until advised by the witness. Once aware of the collision the truck driver returned to the accident scene.

The driver of the other vehicle was a 73-year old male who sustained minor head injuries.

The cause of the collision is under investigation. Neither driver was under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

DATE / TIME PREPARED: 8-9-12/0230 hours

Jeri Williams
Chief of Police

Oxnard Police Department

R. Jason Benites
Assistant Chief

Scott Whitney
Assistant Chief

OXNARD POLICE DEPARTMENT

NEWS RELEASE

INCIDENT:	Carjacking
DATE/TIME:	September 9, 2012 12:24 A.M.
LOCATION:	Durley Park
SUSPECT(S):	Eduardo Garcia, 22-year old Oxnard resident
PREPARED BY:	Sergeant Christopher Williams (805) 486-6211 [email protected]
CONTACT PERSON & CONTACT INFO:	Sergeant Christopher Williams (805) 486-6211 [email protected]

DETAILS:
On September 9, 2012 at approximately 12:24 A.M, officers were dispatched to Durley Park regarding a carjacking that had just occurred. Officers contacted a male victim who advised that he was in his vehicle when he was approached by a Hispanic male armed with a knife. The victim, fearing that he was going to get stabbed, fled from the vehicle. The suspect entered the victim’s vehicle and drove away. The victim was uninjured during the incident.

At approximately 0032 hours, Officer Hartson and Officer Ross, who were working a crime suppression detail, observed the victim’s vehicle at Pleasant Valley Road and “C” Street. They attempted to conduct a traffic stop on the vehicle, however the vehicle fled and a pursuit ensued. The pursuit lasted approximately two minutes and ended when the vehicle collided with a street sign, disabling the vehicle.

The suspect, Eduardo Garcia, fled from the vehicle and was apprehended a short distance away. Garcia was arrested for carjacking, felony evading, and driving while under the influence. He was later booked into Ventura County Jail. Garcia was not injured. The knife used in the carjacking was located in the vehicle.

DATE / TIME PREPARED: 9/9/12, 0330 Hours

Jeri Williams
Chief of Police

Oxnard Police Department

R. Jason Benites
Assistant Chief

Scott Whitney
Assistant Chief

OXNARD POLICE DEPARTMENT

NEWS RELEASE

INCIDENT:	Suspect Arrested for Lewd and Lascivious Acts on a Child
DATE/TIME:	10/09/2012, 6:30 PM
LOCATION:	Oxnard, California
VICTIM(S):	Child (information withheld)
SUSPECT(S):	Gustavo Moya Canizalez, 29 years, Oxnard resident
PREPARED BY:	Senior Detective Luis McArthur, Family Protection Unit, (805) 385-7662, [email protected]
CONTACT PERSON & CONTACT INFO:	Senior Detective Erica Escalante, Family Protection Unit, (805) 385-7759, [email protected]

DETAILS:
On Tuesday, October 9, 2012 at approximately 6:30 p.m., the Oxnard Police Family Protection Unit arrested Gustavo Mayo Canizalez, 29 years, of Oxnard for felony child sexual abuse charges. Canizalez had engaged in numerous and ongoing acts of sexual abuse with a child, who was between the age of 12 and 16 years old.

Canizalez is employed as an office manager for the Harrington Elementary School in the City of Oxnard. The victim was not associated with the school where Canizalez is currently employed. At this time in the investigation there is no indication of any other victims within the Oxnard Elementary School District.

This is an ongoing investigation. Anyone with information about this suspect and/or other incidents that he may have committed is encouraged to call Oxnard PD at (805) 385-7740 or Detective Luis McArthur at (805) 385-7662. If you wish to remain anonymous you may contact Ventura County Crime Stoppers at (800) 222-8477 or visit this site:
http://www.venturacountycrimestoppers.org/contactus.aspx to submit a tip via text or email.

Gustavo Canizalez
DATE / TIME PREPARED: 10/10/12, 1700 hours

Jeri Williams
Chief of Police

Oxnard Police Department

R. Jason Benites
Assistant Chief

Scott Whitney
Assistant Chief

OXNARD POLICE DEPARTMENT

NEWS RELEASE

INCIDENT:	Bank Armed Robbery
DATE/TIME:	October 25, 2012 at 12:11 p.m.
LOCATION:	371 W. Esplanade Dr., Oxnard
VICTIM(S):	Bank of the West
SUSPECT(S):	Dark skinned Hispanic male, 5’-8”, 175-185 lbs., late 40’s to early 50’s, black baseball cap with the letter “B” on the front of the cap, black colored pullover style sweatshirt with “Lakers” logo on front, tan colored pants, and sunglasses.
SUSPECT VEHICLE(S):	White compact
LOSS:	Undisclosed amount of money
PREPARED BY:	Detective Steven Funk, Robbery Unit, (805) 385-7796, [email protected]
CONTACT PERSON & CONTACT INFO:	Detective Steven Funk, Robbery Unit, (805) 385-7796, [email protected]

DETAILS:
On October 25, 2012, at about 12:11 p.m. the Oxnard Police Department responded to a bank robbery at Bank of the West located at 371 West Esplanade Drive in Oxnard. The suspect entered the bank and approached a teller window. The suspect pointed a black handgun at the female teller and demanded money. Fearing for her safety, the teller complied with the suspect’s demands and handed an undisclosed amount of money to the suspect. The suspect fled south from the entrance to the bank and entered a compact white vehicle which was parked in the immediate area. The vehicle was last seen fleeing southbound on Hwy 101.

The Oxnard Police Department and the FBI are investigating this crime. The suspect is believed to be the “Wigged Out Bandit” that committed a previous bank robbery at this same bank on August 13, 2012. He is also believed to have committed three other bank robberies in the City of Ventura.

Anyone with information about this incident is encouraged to call Oxnard PD at (805) 385-7740 or Detective Steven 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.aspxto submit a tip via text or email.

You can also contact the FBI, attention Special Agent Bernard Riedel at 1-310-477-6565 or [email protected]

Bank of the West robbery suspect 10/25/12

DATE / TIME PREPARED: 10/25/12, 5:13 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:	Avoid the 14 Ventura County DUI Task Force Plans Holiday Crackdown To Stop Impaired Driving and Save Lives
DATE/TIME:	December 14, 2012 through January 1, 2013
LOCATION:	County-Wide
PREPARED BY:	Randy Latimer, Traffic Sergeant, Oxnard Police Department
CONTACT PERSON & CONTACT INFO:	Randy Latimer, Traffic Sergeant, Oxnard Police Department (805-385-7847) [email protected] Maria Pena, Traffic Investigator, Oxnard Police Department (805-385-7750) [email protected]

DETAILS:

Avoid the 14 Ventura County
DUI Campaign

PRESS RELEASE

For Immediate Release                                                                     December 12, 2012

Contact: Officer Sergeant Randy Latimer     (805) 385-7847, [email protected]

Avoid the 14 Ventura County DUI Task Force Plans Holiday Crackdown
To Stop Impaired Driving and Save Lives

Oxnard, CA– Heads up to holiday party-goers! To help save lives this holiday season, law enforcement from 14 agencies are launching a special “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” crackdown to stop impaired drivers and to save lives on our roadways.

The Ventura County DUI Avoid the 14 Task Force is announcing that officers and deputieswill be aggressively looking forimpaired drivers and will arrest anyone caught driving under the influence. Enforcement efforts will include: 4 DUI/Drivers License Checkpoints, 15 local DUI saturation patrols, a Multi-Agency DUI Taskforce strike team patrol, and a DUI Warrant/Probation sweep. The CHP will deploy all available officers during two Maximum Enforcement Periods – Christmas and New Years Weekends. The special enforcement crackdown will run from December 14, 2012, through January 1, 2013. (See attached Enforcement Schedule of Operations)

“Lots of folks will be out during this busy holiday season, enjoying themselves and the holiday festivities, and we want everyone to be safe on our roadways.” said Avoid the 14 Task force Coordinator, Sergeant Randy Latimer of the Oxnard Police Department. “That’s why we will be stepping up enforcement to catch and arrest impaired drivers. Please be forewarned. If you are caught driving impaired, you will be arrested. No warnings. No excuses.”

During 2010, more than 10,000 people were killed nationwide in motor vehicle traffic crashes involving an impaired driver and in Californian 791 people died on our state’s streets and highways. There were 14 individuals killed in Ventura County that year.

The holiday season is a particularly dangerous time. During December 2010, 30 percent of all fatalities in motor vehicle traffic crash involved alcohol-impaired drivers. Data also shows that among those alcohol-impaired-driving fatalities, 71 percent occurred when drivers had nearly twice the legal limit blood alcohol concentration of .15 % BAC or higher.

“No one ever thinks that their holiday celebration will end in jail, or worse, in a hospital or the morgue,” said Sergeant Rick Harwood, Thousand Oaks Police Traffic Sergeant. “But for those who include alcohol in their celebrations and then get behind the wheel, this is too often the case.”

Heads Up –violators face jail time, loss of driver license, and steep financial consequences such as higher insurance rates, attorney fees, court costs, lost time at work, and the potential loss of job.

The Avoid the 14 Coalition said there are three simple steps people can take to stay safe and out of trouble:
1.      Plan ahead. If you will be drinking, do not plan on driving. Designate a sober driver or find another safe way home. Even one too many drinks increases the risk of a crash while driving a motor vehicle.
2.      If you are impaired, find another way home. Use a taxi, call a sober friend or family member, use public transportation. Be responsible. If someone you know is drinking, do not let them get behind the wheel. If you see an impaired driver on the road, Report Them – Call 911! Your actions may save someone’s life, and inaction could cost a life.

“We want everyone to enjoy their holidays, but we also want our roadways to be safe,” said Christopher J. Murphy, Director of the California Office of Traffic Safety. “Police, Sheriffs and the CHP will be out in force to help save lives, and they are not going to tolerate impaired driving. So remember, ‘Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over.’ They will be watching.”

The nationalDriver Sober or Get Pulled Over crackdown is led by the California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) and NHTSA, with the California Avoid DUI Task Force Campaign combining high-visibility enforcement and heightened public awareness through publicity. The program is funded by the California Office of Traffic Safety.

Media Notes:To schedule an interview regarding Anti Drunk-Driving efforts, or request a ride-along with law enforcement during the holiday period, please contact Sergeant Randy Latimer at 805-385-7847 or via email at [email protected].

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