Jeri Williams Chief of Police

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

OXNARD POLICE DEPARTMENT

NEWS RELEASE

INCIDENT	Oxnard PD Memorial Ceremony
DATE/TIME	Wednesday, May 9, 2012 at 10:30 a.m.
LOCATION	Third and “C” Streets, Oxnard
CONTACT	Mónica Muñoz Community Affairs Manager  / PIO (805) 385-7631 [email protected]

(Oxnard, CA) On Wednesday, May 9, 2012 at 10:30 a.m. the Oxnard Police Department will honor seven officers who lost their lives in the line of duty. This is the 13^th annual Oxnard Police Department Memorial Ceremony. The ceremony pays tribute to Deputy Constable Andrew McNaughton, Constable William E. Kelley, Officer Albert Gasperetti, Officer Frederick John Clark, Senior Officer John Adair, Officer Jim O’Brien and Officer James Jensen who were killed over the course of the department’s history.
 
According to the National Law Enforcement Officer’s Memorial Fund, peace officer fatalities are down about 40 percent when compared to this same time last year. There have been 39 officers killed in our nation so far this year.
 
In 1962, President John F. Kennedy proclaimed May 15 as Peace Officers Memorial Day and the week in which that date falls as National Police Week. During that week, law enforcement agencies all across the U.S. will honor fallen officers through a variety of events.
 
The OPD Memorial Ceremony is open to the public and begins at 10:30 a.m. and will last about 30 minutes. The ceremony will take place directly outside the Oxnard PD office near the intersection of Third and “C” Streets. Free parking is available in the garage located at the corner of Third and “B” Streets.
 
 
 

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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	Cindo de Mayo DUI enforcement
DATE/TIME	Friday, May 4 – Saturday, May 5, 2012
LOCATION	Oxnard and surrounding cities
CONTACT	Mónica Muñoz Community Affairs Manager  / PIO (805) 385-7631 [email protected]

LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS IN VENTURA COUNTY ON THE LOOKOUT FOR D.U.I. SUSPECTS OVER CINCO DE MAYO 

(Oxnard, CA) Sheriff’s deputies, CHP officers and police officers in Ventura County will be on the lookout for drivers high on alcohol or drugs over the Cinco de Mayo weekend. 
In Oxnard, officers will conduct DUI saturation patrols beginning on Friday, May 4, 2012. On Saturday, officers from Oxnard PD, Ventura PD, the California Highway Patrol, and the Ventura County Sheriff’s Department will team up to conduct a joint-agency, AVOID the 14, DUI saturation patrol in the city of Oxnard.
“The California Highway Patrol will aggressively seeking out DUI suspects and will field extra black-and-white units,” said Lt. Casey Cronin of the CHP Ventura Area Command. “We’ve seen a 54 percent increase in DUI injury collisions from 13 in the first four months of last year and 20 for the same time period this year,” he said. “This cannot be allowed to continue.” 
Of course drivers need to be sober, and they should also realize that streets and freeways are bad places to multi-task, according to Cronin. He advocates concentrating solely on driving, and not being distracted by texting, talking on the phone, eating or fiddling with the stations on the car radio. 
“Avoid the 14 will conduct other operations over the Memorial Day and Independence Day holiday weekends,” said traffic Sgt. Randy Latimer of the Oxnard Police Dept., campaign coordinator. 
Funding for Avoid the 14 comes from the California Office of Traffic Safety through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
Report drunk drivers – Call 911!
 

 

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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 collision
DATE/TIME	June 19, 2012 at 6:30 a.m.
LOCATION	Ventura Road and Devonshire Drive, Oxnard
DRIVER 1	James Phillips, 41, Oxnard resident
DRIVER 2	Darrel Koontz, 45, Oxnard resident
VEHICLE 1	Blue and grey Suzuki motorcycle (solo occupant)
VEHICLE 2	Blue GMC Envoy (solo occupant)
CONTACT	Mónica Muñoz Community Affairs Manager  / PIO (805) 385-7631 [email protected]

(Oxnard, CA) On June 19, 2012, at about 6:30 a.m., Oxnard PD officers responded to the intersection of Ventura Road and Devonshire Drive after receiving a call of an injury traffic collision. Once on scene, officers and EMS personnel found that a blue and grey Suzuki motorcycle and a blue GMC Envoy collided in the intersection of Ventura Road and Devonshire Drive. The motorcyclist, James Philips, 41, sustained serious injuries as a result of the collision and was transported to Ventura County Medical Center where he is listed in stable condition. The SUV driver, Darrel Koontz, 45, was not injured.
 
Preliminary investigation indicates that the motorcycle was possibly traveling at a high rate of speed northbound on Ventura Road approaching Devonshire Drive. The SUV was making a left turn from southbound Ventura Road to eastbound Devonshire Drive. As the SUV made the left turn, the motorcyclist began braking and lost control. The motorcycle struck the SUV, however, the rider, Phillips, was thrown clear.
 
Anyone with information about this collision 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 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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Jeri Williams Chief of Police

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

OXNARD POLICE DEPARTMENT

NEWS RELEASE

INCIDENT	Rooftop burglary cases – suspect arrested
DATE/TIME	July 5, 2012 at 1 a.m.
LOCATION	Channel Islands Dairy 1420 W. Channel Islands Boulevard
SUSPECT	Omar Barrera 3/2/76
PREPARED BY	Detective Nathan Martin
CONTACT	Mónica Muñoz Community Affairs Manager / PIO (805) 385-7631 [email protected]

(Oxnard, CA) On July 5, 2012 at about 1 a.m. Oxnard PD officers responded to a burglary alarm at the Channel Islands Dairy located at 1420 W. Channel Islands Boulevard. As the first officer arrived he saw a white, 1996 Dodge Caravan leaving the rear of the building. The officer stopped the vehicle, which was driven by Omar Uribe Barrera 3/2/76.  Barrera was sweating profusely and didn’t have a good reason as to why he was in the area.
 
When additional officers arrived, they confirmed that the store had been broken into, with the suspect gaining access to the business through a hole that had been made in the roof. Officers reviewed surveillance video from the store and identified Barrera as the suspect who broke into the business. Cash from the register was the loss in this case.
 
Barrera is also charged with two additional rooftop burglaries where he made holes in the roofs of the businesses to gain access and stole money from the cash registers. These two additional incidents were also captured on surveillance video. The other two businesses were Fierro’s Meat Market at 1355 S. “C” Street (occurred on 6/9/12 at 10:50 p.m.) and Cindy’s Minimart at 156 E. Channel Islands Boulevard (occurred on 3/28/12 at 10 p.m.).
 
Anyone with information about these cases is encouraged to call Oxnard PD at (805) 385-7740 or Detective Nathan Martin at (805) 385-7755. 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	Shooting
DATE/TIME	July 7, 2012 a few minutes before 1 a.m.
LOCATION	1200 Mercantile Avenue, Oxnard
VICTIM	22-year-old white male, Ojai resident
SUSPECT VEHICLE	Possibly a green Ford Expedition
CONTACT	Mónica Muñoz Community Affairs Manager / PIO (805) 385-7631 [email protected]

(Oxnard, CA) On July 7, 2012 shortly before 1 a.m. Oxnard PD officers received a call of shots fired in the area of the Hideaway Bar located at 1255 Mercantile Avenue. Officers located a victim of a shooting on Commercial Avenue north of Wooley Road. The victim, a 22-year-old male from Ojai, suffered one gunshot wound to his left lower torso and left upper leg.
 
The victim was uncooperative would not provide information regarding the shooting. However, officers did locate a witness who directed officers to the crime scene in the 1200 block of Mercantile Avenue. Officers were able to collect evidence from the scene but no additional witnesses were located.
 
The only detail about this case is that the suspect vehicle is possibly a green, Ford Expedition.
 
Anyone with information about this incident is encouraged to call Oxnard PD at (805) 385-7740. 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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Jeri Williams Chief of Police

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

OXNARD POLICE DEPARTMENT

NEWS RELEASE

INCIDENT	Homicide and attempted homicide
DATE/TIME	July 9, 2012 at 8:52 p.m.
LOCATION	1800 Oneill Place near Greenbrook
VICTIM	Hispanic male, 19 Hispanic male, 22
SUSPECT	Unknown
CONTACT	Mónica Muñoz Community Affairs Manager / PIO (805) 385-7631 [email protected]

(Oxnard, CA) On Monday July 9, 2012, at 8:52 p.m., Oxnard PD officers responded to a 9-1-1 calls regarding several gunshots and two people who had been shot in the 1800 block of Oneill Place. Officers located a 19-year old man deceased and a 22-year old man suffering from several gunshot wounds to his body. The 22-year old victim was transported to a local hospital where he was taken into emergency surgery and he is currently listed in critical condition. The name of the homicide victim will not be released until his next of kin have been notified.
Preliminary reports were that the two victims were assailed by multiple individuals when the shots were fired. It is suspected that this was a gang-related offense, and investigators are trying to piece together which parties are gang affiliates and the motive for the attack.     
If anyone has information about this case are encouraged to call Oxnard PD at (805) 385-7650 or Detective Roger Garcia at (805) 385-7688. 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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Jeri Williams Chief of Police

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

OXNARD POLICE DEPARTMENT

NEWS RELEASE

INCIDENT	Narcotics search warrant
DATE/TIME	Friday, July 13, 2012 at 5 p.m.
LOCATION	400 block of Helsam Avenue
SUSPECT(S)	Francisco Arias Blanco, 8/4/78  Oxnard resident Luis Alberto Gonzales, 10/8/92  Oxnard resident
CONTACT	Mónica Muñoz Community Affairs Manager / PIO (805) 385-7631 [email protected]

(Oxnard, CA) On July 13, 2012, at about 5 p.m., members of the Oxnard Police Department’s Narcotics Unit and Special Enforcement Unit served a narcotics search warrant in the 400 block of Helsam Avenue, in the unincorporated area of Oxnard. The search warrant was the result of a three-month investigation into the sales of methamphetamine at the residence. 
 
During the search of the residence and a secondary location, detectives located paraphernalia related to the sales of drugs, more than 54 grams of methamphetamine, 24 grams of cocaine, three shotguns, five rifles, ten handguns and seized thousands of dollars in cash. One of the handguns seized was a Tec-9 assault weapon. The estimated street value of the drugs seized is more than three thousand dollars.
 
Francisco Arias Blanco 8/4/78 was arrested for possession of methamphetamine and cocaine for sale as well as possession of an assault weapon and possession of a stolen firearm. Also arrested during the search warrant was Luis Alberto Gonzales 10/8/92 for possession of methamphetamine and being under the influence of a controlled substance.
 
Anyone with information about this case is encouraged to call Oxnard PD at (805) 385-7740 or Detective Miguel Serrato at (805) 385-7600. 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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Jeri Williams Chief of Police

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

OXNARD POLICE DEPARTMENT

NEWS RELEASE

INCIDENT	Report of explosive device in a truck
DATE/TIME	July 20, 2012 at 1:30 p.m.
LOCATION	720 N. Ventura Road, Oxnard
VICTIM	Adult female
SUSPECT	Dewayne Edwards, 51, Oxnard resident
CONTACT	Mónica Muñoz Community Affairs Manager / PIO (805) 385-7631 [email protected]

(Oxnard, CA) On July 20, 2012 at about 1:30 p.m., Oxnard PD received a call of a grenade in a vehicle in the parking lot of the strip mall located at 720 North Ventura Road. Officers were dispatched and were advised that the suspect vehicle, a silver Chevy 2500 pickup truck was last seen northbound on Ventura Road. The female reporting party/victim said that her ex-boyfriend had threatened her and showed her what appeared to be an explosive device or grenade.
 
Moments later, an Oxnard PD traffic unit located the vehicle in the area of Vineyard Avenue and Oxnard Boulevard. The vehicle yielded and the suspect, later identified as 51-year-old Dewayne Edwards, surrendered to officers.
 
The Ventura County Sheriff’s Department bomb squad was dispatched. The surrounding commercial area was evacuated. Portions of Vineyard Avenue and Oxnard Boulevard were closed for about two hours. The bomb squad deployed its robot to view inside the vehicle. Deputies determined that the device was not an explosive or grenade as had been reported. The device did contain either gasoline or oil or both, but did not pose a significant threat.
 
Edwards was arrested for violation of 422 PC (criminal threats) and 11364 H&S (possession of narcotic paraphernalia-a narcotics pipe).
 
Anyone with information about this incident is encouraged to call Oxnard PD at (805) 385-7740. 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	Serious injury collision
DATE/TIME	July 20, 2012 at 7:30 p.m.
LOCATION	Fifth Street and Ventura Road, Oxnard
CONTACT	Mónica Muñoz Community Affairs Manager / PIO (805) 385-7631 [email protected]

(Oxnard, CA) On July 20, 2012 at about 7:30 p.m., a pick-up travelling eastbound Fifth Street on a green light collided with a pedestrian running southbound in the west crosswalk of Ventura Road against a red light. The pedestrian was knocked to the ground after colliding with the pick-up. The driver of the pick-up stopped at the scene. The pedestrian was transported to VCMC where he is listed in stable condition with possible broken bones and facial injuries. The driver of the pick-up was not injured nor was there evidence at the scene of him being under the influence of alcohol or any drug.
 
The pedestrian was under the influence of alcohol at the time of the collision. The investigation into this collision is ongoing.
 
Anyone with information about this incident is encouraged to call Oxnard PD at (805) 385-7740 or Officer Scott Aaron at 805-385-7750 or [email protected]. 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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