John Crombach Chief of Police

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

OXNARD POLICE DEPARTMENT

PRESS RELEASE

INCIDENT:	Homicide Suspect Arrested
DATE/TIME:	03-24-2010 / 0630 Hours
LOCATION:	700 Block Mobil Ave, Camarillo
VICTIM(S):	Michael Wade
SUSPECT(S):	Brian Starks, 35 years, Ventura County resident
PREPARED BY:	Sgt. Jim Seitz, Homicide Supervisor
CONTACT PERSON & CONTACT INFO:	[email protected]

DETAILS:

Brian Starks, a 35 year old resident of Ventura County was arrested for murder early this morning in connection with the November 9, 2009 homicide of Michael Wade. Ventura County Sheriff’s Department S.W.A.T. along with S.W.A.T. officers from the Oxnard Police Department served simultaneous search warrants in Camarillo and Oxnard this morning. The warrant service was in response obtaining an arrest warrant for Starks yesterday afternoon. Starks was found at a relative’s house located in the 700 block of Mobil Ave in Camarillo. He was taken into custody without incident.

Starks is suspected of shooting Michael Wade, 49 years old during a botched robbery attempt last November. That homicide took place in the 1400 Block of S. “E” St. in the City of Oxnard. Starks is being held on murder charges.

John Crombach Chief of Police

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

OXNARD POLICE DEPARTMENT

PRESS RELEASE

INCIDENT:	Burglary Arrest
DATE/TIME:	3-23-2010 / 0954
LOCATION:	1900 Block of Isabella St., Oxnard
VICTIM(S):	Unavailable/ State of California
SUSPECT(S):	Julio Rodriguez, 32 years old from Oxnard Joshua Olsen, 23 years old from Oxnard
WITNESS(ES):	N/A
SUSPECT VEHICLE(S):	2010 Gray Toyota 4 door
LOSS:	N/A
PREPARED BY:	Commander Mike Adair
CONTACT PERSON & CONTACT INFO:	Commander Mike Adair 3-23-10

DETAILS:

On March 23rd at approximately 9:54am officers from the Oxnard Police Department responded to the 1900 block of Isabella St. to investigate a call of a suspicious subject. A resident had called police to alert them of a suspicious person in the backyard of a nearby home. The reporting person gave a description of the subject as well as a vehicle that was waiting in the area.

When officers arrived they contacted the driver of the vehicle, Joshua Olsen and found that he had a felony warrant for his arrest. Officers then saw a subject, Julio Rodriguez, exit the victim house and jump over a rear yard fence. The officers chased the subject from yard to yard and a perimeter was established around the neighborhood. A police service dog apprehended the suspect a short time later and he suffered minor injuries. Several items were found along the path the suspect had taken and those items were later identified as stolen from the house on Isabella St.

Rodriguez was transported to St. John’s Hospital for treatment and later booked into the Ventura County Jail. Olsen was also booked into the Ventura County Jail. Both suspects were charged with burglary, conspiracy, and outstanding warrants.

Residents with questions or with information are urged to contact Detective Luis Mancha at (805) 385-7664.

John Crombach Chief of Police

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

OXNARD POLICE DEPARTMENT

PRESS RELEASE

INCIDENT:	Strong Arm 211PC Robbery Suspect Arrested
DATE/TIME:	3/20/10 2145 hrs
LOCATION:	Cooper Rd. and Grant Ave.
VICTIM(S):	Withheld
SUSPECT(S):	Francisco Rodriguez (12/19/79)
WITNESS(ES):	Officers J. Floriano and B. Stevens
SUSPECT VEHICLE(S):	None
LOSS:	$10.00 (Recovered at the scene)
PREPARED BY:	Sergeant Jack Kujawa
CONTACT PERSON & CONTACT INFO:	Sergeant Jack Kujawa (805) 385-7600

DETAILS: 
2145 hours. Officers Floriano and Stevens were working in a two man police unit in Colonia when they saw what appeared to be two subjects in a fight at Cooper Rd. and Grant Ave. As they approached, the smaller of the two subjects in the altercation saw the police approaching and yelled for help. Both subjects were detained. During their investigation they learned that larger of the subjects, Francisco Rodriguez (12/19/79), was a documented Colonia Chiques gang member on the gang injunction.

The victim told officers that Rodriguez had demanded money or he would “shoot” the victim. Rodriguez was not armed. During the investigation, and in the officer’s presence, the suspect threatened, in Spanish, to kill the victim if he continued to report the crime. The suspect was booked for Robbery, Terrorist Threats, Dissuading a victim from reporting a crime, and violation of the Colonia Chiques Gang Injunction. The victim told the officers, “Thank god you showed up, he would have killed me”. Cash taken during the crime was recovered. The suspect had recently been released from custody for Robbery.

An investigation is continuing. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Oxnard Police Department or 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:	Sobriety and Drivers License Checkpoint
DATE/TIME:	March 20th, 2010 2000-0300
LOCATION:	City of Oxnard
CONTACT PERSON & CONTACT INFO:	Brian Woolley, Traffic Coordinator (805) 385-7749

DETAILS: 

The Oxnard Police Department will conduct a multi-location sobriety and drivers license checkpoint Saturday night, March 20th, from 8:00 P.M. to 3:00 A.M. The checkpoint will be held throughout the City of Oxnard and is funded by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

From the beginning of 2010, the Oxnard Police department has arrested over 220 drivers for DUI and has investigated over 50 DUI related crashes. This Wednesday night, March 17th (St. Patrick’s Day), officers from the Oxnard Police Department partnered with officers from the Ventura Police Department, Simi Valley Police Department, and deputies from the Ventura County Sheriff’s Department to conduct a DUI saturation patrol in the City of Ventura. During the 7 hour operation, 6 DUI arrests were made.

The Oxnard Police Department is committed to improving traffic safety and will continue to conduct sobriety and drivers License checkpoints and DUI enforcement operations in an effort to reduce the number of alcohol related crashes and to make our roadways and community safer. We also remind people that if they see an impaired driver to dial 911. Please buckle up and drive safely!

For any questions related to DUI and traffic enforcement, please contact Senior Officer Brian Woolley at (805) 385-7749 or via e-mail at [email protected].

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.

John Crombach Chief of Police

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

OXNARD POLICE DEPARTMENT

PRESS RELEASE

INCIDENT:	Child Endangerment Possession of a stolen firearm Possession of a loaded firearm
DATE/TIME:	03/18/10, 0156 Hrs
LOCATION:	5300 Block of South J Street
VICTIM(S):	3-year old Oxnard resident
SUSPECT(S):	Jorge Ortiz, 24-year old Oxnard resident
PREPARED BY:	Detective Paul Knapp
CONTACT PERSON & CONTACT INFO:	Detective Roger Garcia 805-385-7688

DETAILS: 

On 3/18/2010 at about 0156 hrs, officers responded to a call of a shooting victim at St. John’s Hospital. Jorge Ortiz initially stated that he was shot by an unknown suspect as he was getting into his vehicle in the alley in the 5300 block of South J Street. It became apparent from his gunshot wound to his left leg that the injury was self-inflicted.

Ortiz admitted to officers that he was going to his residence in the 5300 block of South J Street. He was armed with a handgun in his pocket and carrying his 3-year old child. He placed his child into the front seat of his vehicle and as he was sitting down in the vehicle, the gun discharged and the bullet struck Ortiz in the left leg.

Prior to going to the hospital, Ortiz discarded the weapon in a nearby trashcan. The weapon was later recovered by officers and found to have been reported stolen.

Ortiz was treated and released at St. John’s Regional Medical Center and subsequently arrested for 3 felony charges of child endangerment, possession of a loaded firearm, and possession of a stolen firearm. He was booked into Ventura County Jail with bail set at $500,000.

John Crombach Chief of Police

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

OXNARD POLICE DEPARTMENT

PRESS RELEASE

INCIDENT:	Officer Involved Shooting
DATE/TIME:	03/17/2010 2321 Hours
LOCATION:	South Rose Avenue @ Sanford Drive, Oxnard
OFFICER:	Identity withheld
SUSPECT(S):	Luis Tejada (aka: Juan Luis Reyes), 18 year-old Oxnard resident
PREPARED BY:	Jason Benites, Assistant Police Chief
CONTACT PERSON & CONTACT INFO:	David Keith (805) 385-7631 / [email protected]

DETAILS: 

At approximately 2321 hours on Wednesday, 3/17/2010 Oxnard Police detectives were investigating an incident that had been reported to them about three hours earlier. The detectives were investigating allegations of robbery and sexual assault that had been committed earlier that day upon a seventeen year old female. The female victim’s identity is being withheld, because of her age and nature of the crime.

During the course of the investigation, a suspect had been identified (Luis Tejada, an eighteen year old Oxnard resident) and detectives attempted to contact him. While in the course of making contact with him in the 4900 block of South Rose Avenue, Tejada was struck by gunfire from an Oxnard Police officer. It is believed that the discharge of the officer’s weapon was not intentional.

Tejada sustained a single gunshot wound and was transported to an area medical facility. The wound is not life threatening.

The identity of the involved officer is being withheld. The officer has been placed on paid administrative leave, which is standard procedure for such events.

An investigation is continuing.

John Crombach Chief of Police

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

OXNARD POLICE DEPARTMENT

PRESS RELEASE

INCIDENT:	Online Police Reporting System
PREPARED BY:	Sylvia Paniagua, Records Manager
CONTACT PERSON & CONTACT INFO:	Commander Mike Adair

DETAILS: 

The Oxnard Police Department is proud to announce it will be providing a new online police reporting option to the public. The web based reporting system will allow the public to report certain incidents online provided there is no suspect information available at the time. The types of reports available for online filing are thefts of property under $5,000, vandalisms, annoying phone calls, lost property, and hit and run accidents with no valid suspect license plate or current location of suspect vehicle.

This service will allow the public to file a police report at a time that is best for them without having to wait for an officer to respond to the scene, provided there is no evidence or information which may readily lead to the identity of the suspect. The report submitted will be reviewed by police personnel and once approved the public will receive an email with a copy of the approved report attached at no cost. The report will be processed and will receive the same investigative attention and statistical analysis as if the report had been filed by a police officer.

The web based reporting option will allow officers more time to address community needs while keeping pace with the public expectancy to complete some services via the internet.

The Oxnard Police Department will be using the Desk Officer Online Reporting System from San Ramon, California based software company Coplogic, Inc. The web based crime reporting system is available at the police department’s website, www.oxnardpd.org. The online reporting system has been available since February 1, 2010 and we have received positive feedback from the public. In the future, the Oxnard Police Department will be evaluating the merits of expanding the list of reports that can be filed online.

If you have any questions about the online reporting system, you can contact Commander Mike Adair.

John Crombach Chief of Police

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

OXNARD POLICE DEPARTMENT

PRESS RELEASE

INCIDENT:	187 pc / Homicide
DATE/TIME:	03-14-2010 / 0115 hours
LOCATION:	100 block S. “K” St
VICTIM(S):	David Cameron Gonzalez, 32 years, Oxnard resident
SUSPECT(S):	Several Hispanic males, no further
WITNESS(ES):
SUSPECT VEHICLE(S):
LOSS:
PREPARED BY:	Sergeant Jim Seitz, Homicide Supervisor
CONTACT PERSON & CONTACT INFO:	Detective Mike Young. [email protected]

DETAILS: 

A 32 year old Oxnard resident was killed early Sunday morning after being stabbed by an unknown suspect and two other victims were hospitalized. David Cameron Gonzalez, 32 years and two friends drove to the area of the 100 block of S. “K” St in search of a party that was being held in the area. After they parked their car, the three victims began walking to look for the party, when they were attacked by several possible gang members. Gonzales and the two other victims were stabbed multiple times. Gonzalez died as a result of his injuries prior to being transported to the hospital. The other two victims’ were transported to a local hospital and are listed in serious condition.

It is unclear as to why the victims were attacked. None of the three victims are gang involved. Investigators are asking anyone with information relating to the attack to contact Detective Mike Young at 385-7606 or leave a message on the Violent Crimes Hotline at 982-7070.

John Crombach Chief of Police

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

OXNARD POLICE DEPARTMENT

PRESS RELEASE

INCIDENT:	Weapons / narcotics arrests
DATE/TIME:	03-13-10 / 2215
LOCATION:	500 block of West Channel Islands Blvd.
SUSPECT(S):	Guadalupe Lopez 32 years Emilio Montiel 27 years Krista Munoz 42 years
SUSPECT VEHICLE(S):	Silver 2000 Chevrolet Impala
PREPARED BY:	Officer Mike Johnson

DETAILS: 

On 03-13-10 at approximately 2215 hours, Officers from the Oxnard Police Department Special Enforcement Unit attempted to conduct a traffic stop on a silver 2000 Chevrolet Impala in the South alley of the 500 block of West Channel Islands Boulevard. The driver, Krista Munoz, refused to stop and a short vehicle pursuit ensued. During the pursuit the two male occupants, Guadalupe Lopez and Emilio Montiel, fled from the vehicle on foot. During a subsequent foot pursuit of both subjects, Montiel discarded a loaded .357 caliber revolver. After being apprehended he was also found to be in possession of a loaded .380 caliber semi automatic handgun. Lopez discarded a large quantity of narcotics while being chased by officers. Lopez and Montiel were arrested on a variety of weapons and narcotics charges, parole violations and, for committing a crime for the benefit of a criminal street gang. Munoz was arrested for evading a police officer, narcotics charges, and resisting arrest. All three subjects were later booked into the Ventura County Jail.