Oxnard Police Department

R. Jason Benites
Assistant Chief

Scott Whitney
Assistant Chief

OXNARD POLICE DEPARTMENT

PRESS RELEASE

INCIDENT:	Hit and run with injuries while driving under the influence
DATE/TIME:	November 18, 2010/ 7:56 PM
LOCATION:	Bard Road at J Street
VICTIM(S):	5 month old female baby, name not released
SUSPECT(S):	Sherre Savala, 51 years, of Oxnard
INJURIES:	Minor Injuries
PREPARED BY:	Ron Whitney, Commander
CONTACT PERSON & CONTACT INFO:	Maria Pena, Senior Traffic Investigator 805-385-7750

DETAILS:

On November 18, 2010 at about 1956 hours, officers were dispatched to a collision at Bard and J. When the officers arrived they learned that a 5 month old female baby was being pushed in a stroller by her mother southbound across Bard Road. The mother and baby were in the cross walk. Sherre Savala, 51 years of Oxnard, was driving in a motor vehicle east on Bard Road when she struck the stroller, knocking the stroller to the ground and causing the baby to strike her head. Savala stopped, contacted the mother, returned to her car and fled.

Officers observed Savala fleeing and stopped her. She was arrested for the hit and run. The baby was transported by emergency personnel to Saint John’s Regional Medical Center. It was determined that the baby received minor injuries to her head as a result of the collision.

Officers suspect that Savala was driving while under the influence of narcotics, and she was also arrested for that charge.

Any witnesses to the collision are asked to contact Senior Investigator Maria Pena at 805-385-7750.

Jeri Williams
Chief of Police

Oxnard Police Department

R. Jason Benites
Assistant Chief

Scott Whitney
Assistant Chief

OXNARD POLICE DEPARTMENT

NEWS RELEASE

INCIDENT	DUI / driver’s license checkpoint
DATE/TIME	Saturday, June 30, 2012 – 7 p.m. to 3 a.m.
LOCATION	Oxnard
PREPARED BY	Senior Officer Jamie Brown jamie.brown@oxnardpd.org
CONTACT	Mónica Muñoz Community Affairs Manager / PIO (805) 385-7631 monica.munoz@oxnardpd.org

Oxnard Police Department Targets Impaired Drivers with DUI/Drivers License Checkpoint

Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over

Oxnard, CA – Oxnard Police Department Traffic Unit will be conducting a DUI/drivers license checkpoint on Saturday, June 30th at an undisclosed location within the city limits between the hours of 7 p.m. and 3 a.m. 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.

Officers will be contacting drivers passing through the checkpoint looking for signs of alcohol and/or drug impairment. Drivers caught driving impaired can expect jail, license suspension, and insurance increases, as well as fines, fees, DUI classes, court probation and other expenses that can exceed $10,000.

All too often, members of our community are senselessly injured or killed on local roadways by impaired drivers. “Over the course of the past year, DUI collisions have claimed 1 life and resulted in 185 wrecks injuring 86 of our friends and neighbors in Oxnard,” said Senior Officer Jamie Brown

This DUI/drivers license checkpoint is an effort to reduce those tragedies and officers will be checking drivers for proper licensing. A major component of these checkpoints is the deterrent effect it has on those who might drive drunk or drug-impaired and bring about more awareness, encouraging everyone to designate sober drivers.

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.

Funding for this operation is provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Report Drunk Drivers. Call 911!

###

Jeri Williams
Chief of Police

Oxnard Police Department

R. Jason Benites
Assistant Chief

Scott Whitney
Assistant Chief

OXNARD POLICE DEPARTMENT

PRESS RELEASE

INCIDENT:	Attempted Carjacking – Assault With A Deadly Weapon
DATE/TIME:	3-28-11/0150
LOCATION:	4500 block Saviers Road
VICTIM(S):	Anthony Palacio – 30 year old Fillmore Resident Maria Rodriguez – 27 year old Oxnard Resident
SUSPECT(S):	S-1 – Hispanic Male, 20-25 years of age, 5’5” tall, 150 pounds S-2 – Hispanic Male, 20-25 years of age, 5’5” tall, 150 pounds
SUSPECT VEHICLE(S):	N/A
PREPARED BY:	Detective Charles Buttell (805) 385-7665 or charlesbuttell@oxnardpd.org
CONTACT PERSON & CONTACT INFO:	Detective Charles Buttell (805) 385-7665 or charlesbuttell@oxnardpd.org

DETAILS:

On 3-28-11 at approximately 0150 hours, officers were dispatched to the intersection of Channel Islands Boulevard and Saviers Road in regards to a stabbing. Officers arrived and noticed that the victim had been stabbed in the arm as a result of an attempted carjacking.

The victims were sitting in a parked vehicle in the 4500 block of Saviers Road. The victims were approached by the two suspects and suspect one demanded the victim’s vehicle. A struggle ensued and Victim Palacio was stabbed during the altercation. Victim Palacio was able to retain possession of his vehicle during the incident. The suspects then fled on foot.

The victim was transported to Saint John’s where he was treated for his injury. The victim’s wound was not life threatening.
Any witnesses to the incident or anyone with information is encouraged to contact Detective Charles Buttell at 805-385-7665 or you may leave a message on the Violent Crimes Hotline at 805-982-7070. To give an anonymous tip, call Crime Stoppers at 800-222-TIPS (8477).

John Crombach
Chief of Police

Oxnard Police Department

R. Jason Benites
Assistant Chief

Scott Whitney
Assistant Chief

OXNARD POLICE DEPARTMENT

PRESS RELEASE

INCIDENT:	Home Invasion Robbery
DATE/TIME:	11-07-10 / between 1:00-5:00 A.M.
LOCATION:	400 block of N. Harrison Ave.
VICTIM(S):	33-year old male, Oxnard resident (name withheld)
SUSPECT(S):	3 unknown Hispanic males
WITNESS(ES):
SUSPECT VEHICLE(S):
LOSS:	Jewelry and stereo equipment, moderate injuries
PREPARED BY:	Detective Steven F. Funk
CONTACT PERSON & CONTACT INFO:	Detective Steven F. Funk (805) 385-7796 stevenfunk@oxnardpd.org

DETAILS:

On 11-7-2010 at approximately 07:55 A.M., Oxnard Police officers contacted the victim of a home invasion robbery in front of his residence in the 400 block of N. Harrison Ave., Oxnard. The male victim said that on 11-7-10 sometime after 1:00 A.M., he was inside of his residence watching television when he heard someone inside of his home. The front door to his residence was unlocked and open.

Three suspects, who the victim confronted in his kitchen, battered the victim causing him to lose consciousness. When the victim regained consciousness at about 5:00 A.M., his apartment had been ransacked and several items of property were missing. The victim contacted a neighbor who then drove him to a relative’s house and, upon returning back to the victim’s residence, the victim and relative contacted the police. The victim sustained moderate injuries to his face, upper body, and legs. He was transported by private vehicle to Ventura County Medical Center where he was treated and later released.

Officers from the Oxnard Police Department canvassed the apartment complex and the surrounding neighborhood for witnesses.

Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to contact Detective Steven F. Funk at (805) 385-7796, e-mail stevenfunk@oxnardpd.org or you may leave a message on the Violent Crimes Hotline at (805) 982-7070. To give an anonymous tip call Crime Stoppers at (800) 222-TIPS (8477).

Jeri Williams
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 28th Annual California Strawberry Festival
DATE/TIME:	May 21st and 22nd 2011, 0800 – 2000 hours
LOCATION:	College Park, Oxnard
CONTACT PERSON & CONTACT INFO:	Senior Officer Brian Woolley Traffic Coordinator (805) 385-7749

DETAILS:

The City of Oxnard will host the 28th annual California Strawberry Festival this weekend, May 21st and 22nd, at College Park. The festival will open each day at 10:00 A.M. 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 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 in place 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 free shuttle bus service. Shuttle buses will be picking up festival goers at the following locations:

Camarillo Premium Outlets, 740 E. Ventura Boulevard, Camarillo
Channel Islands Harbor, 3400 block South Harbor Blvd., Oxnard
Centerpoint Mall, 2655 Saviers Road, Oxnard
Oxnard Transportation Center, 201 E. Fourth Street, Oxnard
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. The northbound lanes of Rose Avenue between Gary Drive and Raiders Way will be closed from Friday, May 20th, at 6:00 A.M. to Monday, May 23rd, at 12:00 P.M.

Pleasant Valley Road between Highway 1 and Bard Road
Pleasant Valley Road, between Highway 1 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 road closures, traffic surrounding 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 2011 California Strawberry 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:	Shooting
DATE/TIME:	8/5/10 1829 hours
LOCATION:	900 block of South Ventura Road
VICTIM(S):	31 year old Oxnard resident 19 year old Oxnard resident
SUSPECT(S):	(S1) Samuel Garcia 5/9/90 (S2) Raymond Morales 3/29/84 (S3) Hispanic male, early 20’s, 5-8, 160, black hair, goatee, wearing a black shirt with a long sleeve undershirt, and black jeans (S4) Hispanic male, early 20’s, wearing dark clothing
PREPARED BY:	Sergeant Christopher Williams

DETAILS:

On 8/5/10 at approximately 1829 hours Oxnard Police were dispatched to the 900 block of South Ventura Road regarding a shooting that had just occurred. When officers arrived they located two victims that had sustained gunshot wounds. One of the victims had sustained a gunshot wound to his right arm and the other victim had sustained two gunshot wounds to his left hand. Both victims were transported to VCMC where they treated for their injuries and later released.

Sergeant Amon, who was enroute to VCMC to check on the condition of the victims, located the suspect vehicle at the intersection of Mills and Main Street in the City of Ventura. Sergeant Amon conducted a traffic stop on the vehicle. When the vehicle stopped three of occupants fled from the vehicle. Three of the occupants fled from the vehicle while one occupant stayed in the vehicle. One of the suspects that fled from the vehicle was located and arrested. The two suspects that were arrested were identified as Samuel Garcia (5/9/90) and Raymond Morales (3/29/84). Both suspects were charged with various felony charges.

Investigators from the Violent Crimes Unit are actively looking for the two outstanding suspects. If you have any further information regarding this investigation, please contact Detective Marostica at (805) 486-6228 or you can remain anonymous by contacting Ventura County Crime Stoppers at (805) 385-8255.

John Crombach
Chief of Police

Oxnard Police Department

R. Jason Benites
Assistant Chief

Scott Whitney
Assistant Chief

OXNARD POLICE DEPARTMENT

PRESS RELEASE

INCIDENT:	Chop Shop Operation & Recovered Stolen Vehicles
DATE/TIME:	3/18/10, 22:45
LOCATION:	400 Blk. E. Olive Street, Oxnard
VICTIM(S):
SUSPECT(S):	Thomas Cortez, age 47, Oxnard resident Mario Durazo, age 39, Oxnard resident Jose Esquivel, age 47, Oxnard resident Emmanuel Esquivel, age 22, Oxnard resident
WITNESS(ES):
SUSPECT VEHICLE(S):
LOSS:
PREPARED BY:	Det. Patrick Dolan, Auto Theft Investigator, (805) 385-7755
CONTACT PERSON & CONTACT INFO:	Det. Patrick Dolan, Auto Theft Investigator, (805) 385-7755

DETAILS:

On 3/18/10 at approximately 2245 hours, Oxnard officers responded to a possible theft of an auto tow dolly from the closed U-Haul rental yard at 3020 Saviers Rd., Oxnard. The suspects fled prior to the arrival of officers. Officers searching the area located the stolen tow dolly in the alley of the 400 block of E. Olive St. as Thomas Cortez and Mario Durazo tried to walk away. Cortez and Durazo were detained by officers and the subsequent investigation determined that a 1995 Nissan pick-up that the suspects had used to steal the tow dolly was also stolen in Oxnard on 3/17/10. Further, a 2002 Ford F-150 pick-up truck that they were attempting to load onto the stolen tow dolly in the alley was stolen in Oxnard on 3/12/10. Cortez was arrested for auto theft, a felony. Durazo was also arrested for auto theft as well for being in possession of a controlled substance (a felony) and being under the influence of a controlled substance (a misdemeanor).

Further investigation revealed that the Ford truck had been stripped of its major components including the engine, transmission, hood, and seats. These missing parts and numerous other car parts were located in and around the residence behind which Cortez and Durazo were detained. Investigators from the Ventura County Auto Theft Task Force contacted the residents and determined that there was a chop shop operation in place at the residence. Two of the residents, Jose Esquivel and his son, Emmanuel Esquivel, were arrested for auto theft, possession of stolen property, conspiracy to commit a crime, and operating a chop shop – all felonies. All four suspects were booked into Ventura County Jail.

An investigation is continuing. Anyone with information is asked to contact Detective Patrick Dolan at (805) 385-7755 or Crime Stoppers at (805) 385-8255.

Jeri Williams
Chief of Police

Oxnard Police Department

R. Jason Benites
Assistant Chief

Scott Whitney
Assistant Chief

OXNARD POLICE DEPARTMENT

NEWS RELEASE

EVENT:	Every 15 Minutes(E15M) Program at Hueneme High School, this Thursday and Friday
DATE/TIME:	May 1st and 2nd, 2014, starting at about 11:30 a.m
LOCATION:	Hueneme High School 500 Bard Rd. Oxnard, CA 93030
PREPARED BY:	Miguel Lopez, Community Affairs Manager, (805) 385-7631, miguel.lopez@oxnardpd.org
CONTACT PERSON & CONTACT INFO:	School Resource Officer Ramiro Albarran, (805) 207-7492 ramiro.albarran@oxnardpd.org

DETAILS: Officers from the Oxnard Police Department will be coordinating the Every 15 Minutes (E15M) Program at Hueneme High School, 500 Bard Road, in Oxnard, this Thursday and Friday. Unique in its design and powerful in its impact, the E15M Program is an educational experience that reminds us all of the dangers associated with driving while impaired by alcohol and/or other drugs.

“We look for proactive, effective and powerful ways to drive deep-rooted messages to the core of our young individuals,’ said Sergeant Luis Mancha who oversees the Oxnard Police School Resource Officer Unit. “Today’s students and youth are not like any generations before. They are intelligent, at the same time still developing and very much impressionable. Our hope is that this production sparks conversations amongst friends, well after this program,” Mancha added.

Every 15 minutes in the U.S., someone is killed in a crash involving an impaired driver. The E15M program includes student participants being removed from their class every 15 minutes throughout the morning by an Oxnard Police Officer who acts as the Grim Reaper. An obituary is read to the class and the student participants later return to class as the “living dead”, complete with make-up. From that point on (since the victims are “dead”), they will not speak or otherwise interact with others for the remainder of the day except to be present in their regular classes.

Starting at about 11:25 a.m. on May 1, the OHS student body (all Juniors & Seniors) will assemble in the football stadium to witness a mock head-on crash scene and simulated rescue that will include a full emergency response by Oxnard Police, Oxnard Fire, Gold Coast EMS, Ventura County Medical Examiner’s Office, and McCarty & Sons Towing.

At the end of the school day, instead of returning home, student participants made into the “living dead” or those who were “killed” in the crash, together with several adult chaperones, will be transported to a local hotel for an overnight student retreat, facilitated by a support staff of counselors and police officers. The participants will continue to be out of contact with their family and friends overnight to simulate their separation/death.

The E15M program will continue on May 2, 2014 with a mock “funeral” assembly in the Hueneme High School gym starting at 11:30 a.m. where participants and their parents will share personal and often very emotional letters they wrote to one another the previous evening that begin with “Dear Mom & Dad, Every 15 minutes in the United States, someone is killed in a crash involving an impaired driver. Today I died. I never had a chance to tell you…” This is arguably the most powerful, impactful, and emotional part of the 2- day program. While the crash was staged, the emotions of the funeral assembly are very real, and heart-wrenching.

“The impact I have seen at Channel Islands High School, Pacifica High School, and Oxnard High last year is huge. These students really come to realize what an impact they could have on their parents and loved ones if something was to happen to them. It hits some of these kids particularly hard for a number of reasons – for some, they have had a loved one die or impacted in a significant way due to a drunk driver,” Mancha added. “This program would not be possible or successful if not for the Oxnard Police School Resource Officers and responsible businesses in our community who work hard to organize this program and production,” he added.

This powerful no cost educational program, funded by community donations and sponsored by the Oxnard Police Foundation, will challenge teenagers and others to think about the responsibility of making mature and responsible decisions when lives are involved.

Oxnard Police would like to thank the following businesses and individuals:
·         Camino Del Sol Funeral Home
·         American Medical Response
·         Hometown Buffet
·         GrandStay Residential Suites
·         Luners Professional Sound & Lighting
·         McCarthy & Sons Towing
·         Oxnard Fire
·         Oxnard Union High School District
·         Pete Ryeberg, Santa Clara Church
·         St. John’s Regional Medical Center
·         Ventura County District Attorney’s Office
·         Ventura County Medical Examiner’s Office
·         Ventura County Honorable Judge Kevin McGee

DATE / TIME PREPARED: April 29, 2014, 5:00 PM

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 Traffic Collision
DATE/TIME:	November 19, 2014 / 0946 hours
LOCATION:	Camino del Sol @ Kohala Street
DRIVER 1:	Donald Mitsuo Nagata, 82 years, Oxnard Resident
VEHICLE 1:	Green 1994 GMC Sonoma pick-up truck
DRIVER 2:	Justin Daniel McMurrey, 20 years, Oxnard Resident
VEHICLE 2:	White 2006 Chevrolet Cobalt
DRIVER 3:	Robert Rubio, 28 years, Oxnard Resident
VEHICLE 3:	Bronze 2008 Nissan Altima
PREPARED BY:	Brian Woolley, Traffic Sergeant, (805) 385-7847 brian.woolley@oxnardpd.org
CONTACT PERSON & CONTACT INFO:	Traffic Officer Manuel Perez (805) 385-7749 manuel.Perez@oxnardpd.org

DETAILS:
On Wednesday, November 19, 2014, at about 9:45 a.m., officers from the Oxnard Police Department and EMS personnel responded to the intersection of Camino del Sol and Kohala Street in reference to an injury traffic collision involving three vehicles.

Preliminary investigation indicates that the Chevrolet Cobalt was traveling northbound on Kohala Street through the intersection while the Nissan Altima was traveling southbound through the intersection. The GMC pick-up truck was traveling westbound on Camino del Sol and according to witnesses, it failed to stop for a red light. As the GMC crossed the intersection, it collided with the other two vehicles causing it to flip onto its passenger side and slide for several feet. Donald Nagata, the driver of GMC, was not wearing a seatbelt and the collision caused him to be partially ejected out of the passenger window. When EMS arrived at the scene, Driver Nagata was pinned between his vehicle and the roadway.

Driver Nagata was transported from the scene to the Ventura County Medical Center where he is listed in critical condition. He suffered significant head trauma, fractured ribs and a broken right clavicle as a result of the collision. The drivers of the other vehicles were uninjured.

It is unknown if alcohol or drugs were a factor in this collision.

The investigation is continuing.

If anyone has information about this collision, please contact Traffic Officer Manuel Perez at 805-385-7749 or via email at manuel.perez@oxnardpd.org.

Jeri Williams
Chief of Police

Oxnard Police Department

R. Jason Benites
Assistant Chief

Scott Whitney
Assistant Chief

OXNARD POLICE DEPARTMENT

NEWS RELEASE

INCIDENT:	Oxnard Police Department Traffic Unit Conducts Distracted Driver Operation
DATE/TIME:	April 28, 2015 / 1500-2000 hours
LOCATION:	City of Oxnard
PREPARED BY:	Brian Woolley, Traffic Sergeant (805) 385-7847 brian.woolley@oxnardpd.org
CONTACT PERSON & CONTACT INFO:	Jamie Brown, Traffic Coordinator (805) 385-7749 jamie.brown@oxnardpd.org

DETAILS:
On Tuesday, April 28, 2015, between 3:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m., officers from the Oxnard Police Traffic Unit conducted an enforcement operation targeting distracted drivers in the area of Oxnard Boulevard and Vineyard Avenue. This operation was part of a month long distracted driving enforcement campaign across the country and State of California. The California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has identified the month of April as Distracted Driving Awareness Month. Over 200 law enforcement agencies across California have participated in the campaign that began on April 1^st.

The intersection of Oxnard Boulevard and Vineyard Avenue was specifically chosen for this operation due to the high volume of traffic in the area and the recent increase of reported traffic collisions caused by a variety of factors.

The results of this five hour operation are listed below:
·        54 vehicles stopped
·        45 total citations issued
·        Two drivers found to be driving with suspended driver’s licenses
·        43 citations issued to distracted drivers (using cell phones in a non-hands free mode)
·        Two vehicles towed

The Oxnard Police Department will continue to conduct these types of enforcement operations this year make our roadways and community safer. These operations are funded by grants from the California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) and through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

DATE / TIME PREPARED: April 29, 2015 / 1700 hours