News Releases

NEWS RELEASE

DATE: August 15, 2023, at approximately 12:40 A.M.

SUBJECT: Man Shot and Killed

LOCATION: 1600 block of East First Street, Oxnard

VICTIM: Diego Espinoza, 28-year-old Oxnard Resident

SUSPECT: Unknown

CONTACT: Jess Aragon, Sergeant

(805) 385-7632 | [email protected]

Monday – Thursday 7:00 A.M. – 5:00 P.M.

On August 15, 2023, at approximately 12:40 A.M., Oxnard police officers responded to a shooting victim in the 1600 block of East First Street. When officers arrived, they located 28-year-old Diego Espinoza suffering from gunshot wounds. Espinoza was transported by ambulance to the Ventura County Medical Center. Despite lifesaving measures by the medical staff, Espinoza was pronounced deceased at approximately 6:40 A.M.

Detectives responded to the scene to assume the investigation. There is no clear motive for the shooting at this time.

Investigators are encouraging anyone who has any information, or may have heard or seen anything to contact Detective Charles Buttell at (805) 385-7688. The City of Oxnard offers a reward of $25,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of any individuals responsible for committing homicides within the City.

Also, anyone with information regarding this case or other criminal activity is encouraged to contact the Oxnard Police Department at (805) 385-7755, or online via the Oxnard Police Department's website:www.oxnardpd.org, and clicking on Report Suspicious Activity. You can remain anonymous if you choose to do so. You can also remain anonymous by calling the Ventura County Crime Stoppers at (800) 222-8477. You can also visit this site: www.venturacountycrimestoppers.org to submit a tip via text or email.

NEWS RELEASE

DATE: August 14, 2023

SUBJECT: National Summer Mobilization

CONTACT: Alvaro Pulido, Corporal

(805) 385-7749 (Mon-Thu 8AM-6PM) | [email protected]

The Oxnard Police Department Encourages Drivers to Go Safely During the Final Days of Summer

As the summer travel season wraps up, the Oxnard Police Department reminds drivers to stay safe and be responsible by never driving under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs.

The Oxnard Police Department asks residents to take the necessary precautions to protect yourself and your family by buckling up, avoiding distractions behind the wheel, following the speed limit, and not driving impaired.

To help keep our community safe, the Oxnard Police Department will have additional officers on patrol from August 16 through Labor Day (Sept. 4) looking for drivers suspected of driving under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs. The additional efforts to prevent impaired driving are part of a national enforcement campaign, Driver Sober or Get Pulled Over.

In addition to patrols, the Oxnard Police Department will hold a DUI Checkpoint on August 18th and September 1st from 7:00 p.m. to 2:00 a.m. at undisclosed locations within the city of Oxnard.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 13,384 people were killed in drunk-driving crashes in 2021 — that’s one person every 39 minutes.

While drunk driving is a significant traffic safety problem, driving while impaired is not just from alcohol. Prescription drugs, over-the-counter medications and cannabis products may also impair. If you plan on drinking or taking medications with a driving warning label, let someone who is sober drive. If you see someone driving impaired, call 9-1-1.

Share your thoughts about impaired driving by participating in the Go Safely Movement, a call-to-action traffic safety survey from the California Office of Traffic Safety. Take the survey at gosafelyca.org.

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

Investigators from the Oxnard Police Department located Myledia Monroy-Ortiz and her infant daughter. They were found safe and reunited with their families. The Oxnard Police Department would like to thank the members of our community who reached out to aid in their safe return.

On Wed, Aug 9, 2023 at 10:42 PM McAlpine, Dale <[email protected]> wrote:

NEWS RELEASE

DATE:                        August 9, 2023

SUBJECT:               Police are searching for 16 year old run-away and her infant daughter; Parental abduction suspected

LOCATION: 700 Block Janetwood Drive, Oxnard

VICTIM: (Name Withheld) Hispanic Female, 4 Months-Old Female,

SUSPECT:               Myledia Monroy-Ortiz, 16 years old

CONTACT:               Dale Mc Alpine, Sergeant

(805) 385-7756 | [email protected]

Oxnard police detectives are actively searching for 16 year old Myledia Monroy-Ortiz and her 4 month-old daughter. Detectives are asking for the public’s help in locating Monroy-Ortiz and her daughter.

On August 9, 2023, a child custody hearing took place in Family Court at the Ventura County Courthouse. At the conclusion of that hearing, the custody of the 4 month old infant was given to the child’s biological father. After the court hearing, Monroy-Ortiz was seen leaving her residence with her infant daughter and their whereabouts are currently unknown. The biological father contacted the The Ventura County District Attorney’s Child Abduction and Recovery Unit and was referred to the Oxnard Police Department. A missing person report was completed for Monroy-Ortiz and her infant daughter.

The Oxnard Police Department is asking for the community's assistance in locating Myledia Monroy-Ortiz and her 4 month-old daugther. Monroy-Ortiz is a 16 year old Hispanic female, 5’7”, 120 lbs, with red hair, brown eyes, last seen leaving her residence in the 700 block of Janetwood Drive, Oxnard with her 4 month-old today around 3:30 P.M.

If you have any information about the whereabouts of Monroy-Ortiz and her 4 month-old daughter, we ask that you contact the Oxnard Police Department Dispatch Center immediately at (805) 385-7740.

Myledia Monroy-Ortiz.jpg

NEWS RELEASE

DATE: August 11, 2023, 6:00 P.M.

SUBJECT: Missing Adult

LOCATION: Kimball Park, Ventura

MISSING PERSON: Roxana Chappell, 78 year old Oxnard Resident

CONTACT: Kevin Baysinger, Commander (Thursday-Saturday 4PM- 4 AM)

(805) 385-7741 | [email protected]

The Oxnard Police Department is asking for the community's assistance in locating a missing adult. Roxana Chappell is a 78 year old white female with white hair and brown eyes. Mrs. Chappell was last seen in the area of Kimball Park in the City of Ventura; she resides in Oxnard. She was wearing a silver reflective vest, grey pants and grey shoes. Both Ventura and Oxnard Police Departments are searching for Mrs. Chappell.

We are asking for the public’s assistance in locating Mrs. Chappell. If you have any information about the whereabouts of her, we ask that you contact the Oxnard Police Department dispatch immediately at (805) 385-7740.

NEWS RELEASE

DATE: August 11, 2023 (8:00 p.m.)

SUBJECT: Subject Arrested for Carrying Loaded Concealed Handgun

SUSPECTS: 17-year-old Oxnard resident

LOCATION: 1301 Commercial Ave, Oxnard

CONTACT: Jason Radcliffe, Corporal

(805) 385-7796 | [email protected]

On August 11, at approximately 8:00 p.m., officers from the Oxnard Special Enforcement Unit (Gang Unit) responded to a call for service of gang members disturbing in the complex at 1301 Commercial Ave. Officers contacted a group of several subjects loitering where a 17-year-old Oxnard resident was found to be in possession of a loaded FN 5.7 handgun. The subject was arrested and booked in Juvenile Hall.

The Oxnard Police Department’s Special Enforcement Unit is committed to reducing gang crimes and gun violence in the City of Oxnard through the strict enforcement of laws specifically targeting known, active gang members residing in the city. Anyone with information regarding this case or other criminal activity is encouraged to contact the Oxnard Police Department at (805) 385-7600, or online via the Oxnard Police Department’s website: www.oxnardpd.org, and clicking on Report Suspicious Activity. You can remain anonymous if you choose to do so. You can remain anonymous by calling the Ventura County Crime Stoppers at (800) 222-8477. You can also visit this site: www.venturacountycrimestoppers.org to submit a tip via text or email.

Mrs. Chappell was located and is now safe. She will be reunited with her family. Thank you all for your help.

On Fri, Aug 11, 2023 at 8:15 PM Baysinger, Kevin <[email protected]> wrote:

   NEWS RELEASE

DATE:                                   August 11, 2023, 6:00 P.M.

SUBJECT: Missing Adult

LOCATION:                          Kimball Park, Ventura

MISSING PERSON: Roxana Chappell, 78 year old Oxnard Resident

CONTACT: Kevin Baysinger, Commander (Thursday-Saturday 4PM- 4 AM)

                                                (805) 385-7741 | [email protected]

The Oxnard Police Department is asking for the community's assistance in locating a missing adult. Roxana Chappell is a 78 year old white female with white hair and brown eyes. Mrs. Chappell was last seen in the area of Kimball Park in the City of Ventura; she resides in Oxnard. She was wearing a silver reflective vest, grey pants and grey shoes. Both Ventura and Oxnard Police Departments are searching for Mrs. Chappell.

We are asking for the public’s assistance in locating Mrs. Chappell. If you have any information about the whereabouts of her, we ask that you contact the Oxnard Police Department dispatch immediately at (805) 385-7740.

NEWS RELEASE

DATE: August 9, 2023

SUBJECT: Police are searching for 16 year old run-away and her infant daughter; Parental abduction suspected

LOCATION: 700 Block Janetwood Drive, Oxnard

VICTIM: (Name Withheld) Hispanic Female, 4 Months-Old Female,

SUSPECT: Myledia Monroy-Ortiz, 16 years old

CONTACT: Dale Mc Alpine, Sergeant

(805) 385-7756 | [email protected]

Oxnard police detectives are actively searching for 16 year old Myledia Monroy-Ortiz and her 4 month-old daughter. Detectives are asking for the public’s help in locating Monroy-Ortiz and her daughter.

On August 9, 2023, a child custody hearing took place in Family Court at the Ventura County Courthouse. At the conclusion of that hearing, the custody of the 4 month old infant was given to the child’s biological father. After the court hearing, Monroy-Ortiz was seen leaving her residence with her infant daughter and their whereabouts are currently unknown. The biological father contacted the The Ventura County District Attorney’s Child Abduction and Recovery Unit and was referred to the Oxnard Police Department. A missing person report was completed for Monroy-Ortiz and her infant daughter.

The Oxnard Police Department is asking for the community's assistance in locating Myledia Monroy-Ortiz and her 4 month-old daugther. Monroy-Ortiz is a 16 year old Hispanic female, 5’7”, 120 lbs, with red hair, brown eyes, last seen leaving her residence in the 700 block of Janetwood Drive, Oxnard with her 4 month-old today around 3:30 P.M.

If you have any information about the whereabouts of Monroy-Ortiz and her 4 month-old daughter, we ask that you contact the Oxnard Police Department Dispatch Center immediately at (805) 385-7740.

Myledia Monroy-Ortiz.jpg Myledia Monroy-Ortiz baby-Evanna.jpg

Myledia Monroy-Ortiz.jpg

NEWS RELEASE

DATE: August 9, 2023 (1:35 p.m.)

SUBJECT: Subject Arrested for Carrying Concealed P 80 Handgun

SUSPECTS: Leonel Collazo, 23-year-old Oxnard resident

LOCATION: I St. at Hill St., Oxnard

CONTACT: Bakari Myers, Sergeant

(805) 797-6202 | [email protected]

On August 9, at approximately 1:35 p.m., officers from the Oxnard Special Enforcement Unit (Gang Unit) contacted two subjects on “I” St. north of Hill St. During the encounter, officers noticed an object concealed underneath one of the subject’s clothing. Based on the size of the object, officers believed that the concealed item was possibly a firearm. Officers conducted a pat search of the individual and discovered that the item was a loaded 9-millimeter, Glock-style, Polymer 80, un-serialized, semi-automatic handgun. Polymer 80 semi-automatic handguns are sold commercially as incomplete, without serial numbers, and must be further manufactured to make them into functioning firearms. Collazo was arrested for felony firearms violations and booked into Ventura County Jail.

NEWS RELEASE

DATE: August 8, 2023

SUBJECT: Distracted Driving Enforcement

CONTACT: Jose Diaz, Sergeant,

(805) 385-7847 (Mon-Thu 7pm-5pm) | [email protected]

On August 9, 2023, the Oxnard Police Department will conduct an enforcement operation focused on drivers suspected of violating the hands-free cell phone law.

Under current law, drivers are not allowed to hold a phone or electronic communications device while operating a vehicle. This includes talking, texting, or using an app. Using a handheld cell phone while driving is punishable by a fine. Violating the hands-free law for a second time within 36 months of a prior conviction for the same offense will result in a point being added to a driver’s record.

If you have an important phone call or need to program directions, pull over to a safe parking spot. Before driving, either silence your phone or put it somewhere you can’t reach.

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

NEWS RELEASE

DATE: August 3, 2023 (5:27 p.m.)

SUBJECT: Driver Arrested for Firearm Possession, Passenger Arrested for Parole Violation

SUSPECTS: Johnny Gonzalez, 18-year-old Oxnard resident

Luis Librado, 20-year-old Oxnard resident

LOCATION: Oxnard Blvd. at Date St., Oxnard

CONTACT: Bakari Myers, Sergeant

(805) 797-6202 | [email protected]

On August 3, at 5:27 p.m., officers from the Oxnard Special Enforcement Unit (Gang Unit) conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle at the intersection of Oxnard Blvd. and Date St. Officers made contact with the occupants and discovered one of the passengers, Luis Librado, was on parole. Officers removed the occupants from the vehicle so that they could exercise Librado’s search terms pursuant to his parole. Officers searched the vehicle and located a loaded Glock 9-millimeter extended magazine. Officers continued searching the vehicle and located a Glock 9-millimeter handgun that was concealed in a hidden compartment within the vehicle. Officers arrested the driver, Johnny Gonzalez, for possessing the concealed handgun within his vehicle. Librado, a documented Oxnard criminal street gang member, was arrested for violating the terms of his parole.