Jeri Williams Chief of Police

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

OXNARD POLICE DEPARTMENT

PRESS RELEASE

(Oxnard, CA) At 10:40 p.m. on June 23, 2012, personnel from the Oxnard Police and Fire departments responded to the 1100 block of South “L” Street regarding a man possibly overdosing on drugs. The Oxnard Police and Fire Communications Division received a 911 call requesting help for a person later determined to be 26-year-old Oxnard resident Robert Ramirez.  The caller told the dispatcher he believed Ramirez had swallowed a large amount of methamphetamine, described as an “eight ball.”  The caller described Ramirez as acting erratically and said Ramirez needed medical attention.
 
The caller told the 911 dispatcher that the man was, “bouncing off the walls” and “it looks like he’s having a, like a, like a fit, almost borderline seizure.” At one point during the call, the caller asked for police to be sent.  The dispatcher assured the caller that both police and fire were being sent to Ramirez’s aid.
 
Assistant Chief Scott Whitney of the Investigative Services Bureau said, “We are still investigating this incident, but we do know that the officers did not strike, choke or use a taser on Mr. Ramirez. The officers did everything they could to get Mr. Ramirez the medical care he needed.”
 
The Oxnard Police Department’s Major Crimes Investigation Unit and the Ventura County District Attorney’s Office are working together on this investigation. The officers involved in this case were placed on paid administrative leave on the night of the incident, which is standard procedure. All of these officers have since returned to work.
 
Anyone with additional information about this incident is asked to contact Senior Officer Jeff Kay at (805) 385-8174or Jeff.Kay@oxnardpd.org.
 
Included with this news release is the audio recording of the 911 call for service that was received at 10:40 p.m. on June 23, 2012. Also included is a transcript of this 911 call. Please note that the caller’s address and telephone number have been redacted.   

Transcript of 911 call Ramirez
Audio of 911 call Ramirez

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	Shooting
DATE/TIME	July 26, 2012 at 9:30 p.m.
LOCATION	200 East Dollie Street, Oxnard
VICTIM	27-year-old Hispanic male, Oxnard resident
CONTACT	Mónica Muñoz Community Affairs Manager / PIO (805) 385-7631 monica.munoz@oxnardpd.org

(Oxnard, CA) On July 26, 2012, at about 9:30 p.m., Oxnard PD officers responded to a shooting victim located in the 200 block of East Dollie Street.  When they arrived they observed a vehicle driving at a high rate of speed leaving the area. Officers tried to contact this vehicle but it failed to yield. Officers followed the vehicle from the area and eventually the driver of the vehicle pulled up to the emergency room area of St. John’s Regional Medical Center located at 1600 N. Rose Ave. The driver of the vehicle was a friend of the victim who was transporting him by personal vehicle to the hospital. The victim, a 27-year-old Hispanic male, was in critical condition and later transported to the Ventura County Medical Center where he underwent emergency surgery. The victim is currently listed in critical but stable condition. The motive for the shooting is unknown at this time. 
 
Anyone with information about this incident is encouraged to call Oxnard PD at (805) 385-7740 or Detective Cody Collet at (805) 486-6228.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	Shots fired
DATE/TIME	July 23, 2012 at 6:19 p.m.
LOCATION	Juanita Avenue and Cooper Road – Colonia Park
SUSPECT(S)	Pompeyo Diaz De Leon  1/4/77 Ariana Pacheco 8/2/93
CONTACT	Mónica Muñoz Community Affairs Manager / PIO (805) 385-7631 monica.munoz@oxnardpd.org

(Oxnard, CA) On July 23, 2012 at 6:19 p.m. Oxnard PD officers responded to Colonia Park located at Juanita Avenue and Cooper Road regarding calls of shots fired. Officers contacted several witnesses and the description of the suspect vehicle was broadcast to all on-duty staff. 
 
At 6:27 p.m., officers with the Special Enforcement Unit stopped a vehicle they believed to be the suspect vehicle and observed a weapon partially concealed inside. A witness from the original scene was taken to the location of the traffic stop and positively identified one of the occupants as being involved in the incident at Colonia Park.
 
Pompeyo Diaz De Leon (1/4/77) and Ariana Pacheco (8/2/93) were arrested for discharging a weapon in a reckless manner and numerous firearms violations. Diaz De Leon was also arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol and driving with a suspended license. No one was hit by gunfire during the incident at the park.
 
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	Bicycle crashes increase in Oxnard
DATE/TIME	July 18, 2012
CONTACT	Mónica Muñoz Community Affairs Manager / PIO (805) 385-7631 monica.munoz@oxnardpd.org

(Oxnard, CA) There has been an increase in the number of bicycle collisions in the city of Oxnard in recent months. Between January and June in 2011 there were a total of 25 collisions involving bicycles. Between those same months this year, there have been 49 bicycle collisions.
 
As a result of this increase, Oxnard PD patrol officers and traffic officers are conducting directed bicycle enforcement which includes educating the public on bicycle safety and proper choices while riding a bicycle on city streets.
 
The primary collision factors in these crashes are wrong-way riding and signal and stop sign violations. Officers are enforcing these violations and bicycle equipment violations for example: riders under the age of 18 must wear a bicycle helmet and all bicycles must be equipped with functioning brakes. Helmets are strongly recommended for everyone when riding a bicycle.

Bicycle riders are to follow the same rules of the road as those driving cars on our roadways. Here are just a few rules and tips for safe bicycle use –
 

• Travel in the same direction as cars and stop for all stop signs and obey all signal lights.
• Oxnard city ordinance 7-132(d) prohibits people over the age of 12 from riding their bikes on the sidewalk.
• Make eye contact and make sure a driver sees you before crossing in front of a car.
• Wear light clothing so that drivers may see you more easily at night.
• A front white headlight and a rear reflector are required when riding at night. A red light on the rear is strongly recommended.
• Stay focused and stay alert… do not ride with headphones in both ears.
• Use extreme caution when making turns in traffic.
• Ride far enough away from parked cars so you can avoid suddenly opened doors.

Follow these links for bicycle safety information from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the California Office of Traffic Safety http://www.ots.ca.gov/pdf/BicyclePedSafetyBrochure.pdf  
http://www.nhtsa.gov/Bicycles
 
 

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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 monica.munoz@oxnardpd.org

(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	Aumento de accidentes involucrando personas en bicicleta
DATE/TIME	July 23, 2012
CONTACT	Mónica Muñoz Community Affairs Manager / PIO (805) 385-7631 monica.munoz@oxnardpd.org

(Oxnard, CA) En los últimos meses ha habido un aumento en el número de accidentes involucrando a personas en bicicleta en la Ciudad de Oxnard. Entre de enero y junio del año 2011 hubo un total de 25 accidentes de personas en bicicleta. Este año, entre esos mismos meses, hubo 49 accidentes de bicicleta.
 
Como consecuencia de este aumento, los oficiales de patrullaje y tránsito del Departamento de Policía de Oxnard están llevando a cabo esfuerzo enfocado hacia el cumplimiento de las leyes para ciclistas, incluyendo educar al público sobre la seguridad del uso de bicicletas y las decisiones apropiadas al transitar en bicicleta sobre las calles de la ciudad.  
 
Los factores principales en este tipo de accidentes son el ir en dirección contraria y el no respetar los semáforos y los señalamientos de alto. Los oficiales de la policía están haciendo cumplir este tipo de violaciones y también al incumplimiento del uso apropiado de equipo de seguridad tales como; los menores de 18 años deben llevar puesto un caso cuando andan en bicicleta y que toda bicicleta debe estar equipada con frenos. Se recomienda que toda persona que ande en bicicleta lleve casco.
 
Las personas en bicicleta, al igual que los que conducen auto, deben seguir las mismas reglas viales al andar en nuestras calles y carreteras. A continuación hay algunos reglamentos y consejos para andar seguro en bicicleta:
 

• Viaje en la misma dirección que los coches y pare en todos los señalamientos de alto y respete los semáforos.
• La Ordenanza de la Ciudad de Oxnard 7-132(d) prohíbe a las personas mayores de 12 años andar en bicicleta en las aceras.
• Asegúrese de tener contacto visual con la persona del auto antes de cruzar por enfrente del coche.
• Use ropa de colores claros para que los conductores lo puedan ver de noche.
• Se requiere lleve lámpara de luz blanca en la parte posterior de la bicicleta y un reflector de luz en la parte trasera cuando pasea de noche. Se recomienda ampliamente que lleve una luz roja en la parte trasera.
• Manténgase alerta y enfocado…no tenga auriculares en ambos oídos cuando ande en bicicleta.
• Tenga mucha precaución al doblar las calles entre el tráfico.
• Guarde distancia entre los autos estacionados para evitar un portazo repentino.

 
Siga estos enlaces de la Internet (en inglés) para ver información acerca de la seguridad del uso de bicicletas de la Administración de Seguridad Nacional de Tránsito de Carreteras y de la Oficina de California de Seguridad de Tránsito http://www.ots.ca.gov/pdf/BicyclePedSafetyBrochure.pdf 
http://www.nhtsa.gov/Bicycles
 
 
 

Jeri Williams Chief of Police

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

OXNARD POLICE DEPARTMENT

NEWS RELEASE

INCIDENT	Felony arrest with K9 deployment
DATE/TIME	July 22, 2012 at 12:30 p.m.
LOCATION	1500 block Twin Tides Place, Oxnard
CONTACT	Mónica Muñoz Community Affairs Manager / PIO (805) 385-7631 monica.munoz@oxnardpd.org

(Oxnard, CA) On July 22, 2012 at 12:30 in the afternoon, Oxnard PD officers responded to the 1000 block of Dunes Street regarding a suspicious male seen in the rear yard of a residence.  When officers tried to contact the suspect he fled to the boat docks in the 1500 block of Twin Tides Place where he jumped into the water.  
 
Officers learned the suspect was 27-year-old Ruben Gonzales. Gonzales was wanted for a felony parole violation and for a recent felony domestic violence incident. Gonzales refused to comply with officer’s orders for several minutes. He was apprehended with the assistance of an Oxnard PD canine. Gonzales was taken to St. John’s Regional Medical Center where he was treated for minor injuries he sustained during the arrest. Gonzales will eventually be booked into the Ventura County Jail. He is not eligible for bail because he violated the terms of his parole.
 
 
 

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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	Tip-A-Cop fundraiser to benefit Special Olympics Ventura County
DATE/TIME	Tuesday, July 24 from 5 to 9 p.m.
LOCATION	Dominick's Italian Restaurant 477 North Oxnard Blvd., Oxnard
CONTACT	Mónica Muñoz Community Affairs Manager / PIO (805) 385-7631 monica.munoz@oxnardpd.org SOVC Regional Director Peggi Preston at (805) 650-7717 or Ppreston@sosc.org

(Oxnard, CA) On Tuesday, July 24, from 5 to 9 p.m., visit Dominick’s Italian Restaurant located at 477 N. Oxnard Boulevard for the annual Tip-A-Cop event to benefit Special Olympics Ventura County. Officers from Oxnard PD will act as “celebrity servers” with all tips becoming tax-deductible donations to Special Olympics Ventura County. 
 
“We are pleased that Special Olympics continues to receive the support of Dominick’s,” states Special Olympics Regional Director Peggi Preston, “and we look forward to another successful evening. All the representatives from Oxnard PD are the greatest!”

Officers will be assisted by Ventura County Special Olympics athletes who help serve food and sell fundraising t-shirts. Athletes are anxious to show off their medals and share their Special Olympics experiences.
 
For more than twenty-five years, Ventura County law enforcement agencies have been raising tens of thousands of dollars annually allowing Special Olympics Ventura County to offer year round sports training and competition to hundreds of men and women with intellectual disabilities, ages eight years and up, free of charge, in ten sports at more than twenty training sites throughout Ventura County.
For more information on this event and Special Olympics Ventura County contact SOVC Regional Director Peggi Preston at (805) 650-7717 or Ppreston@sosc.org.
 
  
 

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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 monica.munoz@oxnardpd.org

(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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