John Crombach Chief of Police

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

OXNARD POLICE DEPARTMENT

PRESS RELEASE

DETAILS:

During the early morning hours of 1/13/2010, law enforcement officers from around Ventura County conducted seven search warrants throughout Oxnard. These warrants stemmed from the recent increase of gang incidents within the City. During these incidents a specific Oxnard gang was named as being involved. Its members and associates residences were served with several gang association search warrants.

During the warrants, investigators seized gang paraphernalia, ammunition, replica weapons, and narcotics. The above listed persons were arrested during the warrants for charges ranging from Assault with a Deadly Weapon, Narcotics violations, and Warrants.

The Oxnard Police Department was assisted by members of the Ventura County Sherriff’s Department, Ventura Police Department, and Ventura County Probation during the service of the search warrants and arrests of the above listed people.

The Oxnard Police Department will continue to respond with a zero tolerance approach towards gang violence within our community. We will continue to serve search warrants and arrest those responsible for committing gang violence within our community. We will continue our partnerships with the community and with those groups within the community that provide alternatives to the gang lifestyle. The Oxnard Police Department deeply appreciates our partnership with other Ventura County Law Enforcement agencies who continue to assist us in curbing the scourge of gang violence within our community.

DETAILS: 

On 1-8-2009, the Oxnard Police Department received a call from a witness reference a suspicious subject removing a speaker from the Morning Star Church of God which is located on the 400 block of N. Harrison Avenue.

The suspect was located by officers a block away from the church. A witness was able to identify the suspect.

The suspect was identified as 35 year old Oxnard resident Salvador Maldonado Arenas. Arenas was booked into Ventura County jail on burglary charges.

Additional pieces of stolen electronic equipment from the church have not been recovered.

Residents with additional information reference this crime are encouraged to contact the lead investigator Detective Tom Payn at (805) 385-7594.

DETAILS:

On 01/07/10 at 8:40 AM City of Oxnard Parks employees were working at Southbank Park when they discovered a suspicious package with a note. Police were notified and as a precautionary measure the park was evacuated and the Rio Del Norte Elementary School was locked down. An assessment of the package dictated members from the Oxnard Police Violent Crimes Unit and the Ventura County Sheriff’s Department Bomb Squad to be dispatched.

During the investigation the owner of the package was found and the package was deemed not to be a threat. The investigation lasted for approximately an hour and a half.

DETAILS:

On 1-4-09 at 9:13 AM officers responded to a call of a robbery alarm at the County Commerce Bank. Prior to officers arriving they were updated that it was an actual robbery and the suspect had fled the bank on foot towards Rice Ave.

Investigators were told the suspect entered the bank holding a possible weapon, he demanded all the customers and employees to the floor. He then approached several tellers and demanded money; he fled the bank within a minutes. The suspect got an undetermined amount of currency.

Investigators and local FBI are requesting assistance, if anyone saw a suspicious vehicle parked on Rice Ave South of Gonzales Rd around 9:00 AM. Please contact Detective Charles Buttell at (805) 385-7665. You can remain anonymous by calling Ventura County Crime Stoppers at (800) 222-TIPS (8477). The investigation is continuing.

DETAILS:

On December 31, 2009, between the hours of 6:00 P.M. and 4:00 A.M., officers from the Oxnard Police Department Traffic Unit conducted a DUI saturation patrol. Officers patrolled the City of Oxnard with an emphasis on impaired drivers and traffic enforcement.

During the operation, officers conducted 70 traffic stops and conducted 12 DUI investigations leading to the arrest of 9 drivers for DUI. One additional driver was arrested for an outstanding warrant.

Officers also issued 26 traffic citations for various vehicle code violations. Eight of the drivers stopped were unlicensed and three of those drivers were driving with a suspended driver’s license. Officers towed six vehicles and the owners of the towed vehicles will face a minimum release fee of $494.00.

The Oxnard Police Department will continue conducting DUI saturation patrols on various nights of the week and holidays in an effort to reduce the number of alcohol related crashes and to make our community and roadways safer. These operations are funded through grants from the California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) though the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA).

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].

DETAILS:

On December 31st, between the hours of 6:00 P.M. and 4:00 A.M., several officers from the Oxnard Police Department Traffic Unit will be conducting DUI saturation patrol. These officers will patrol the City of Oxnard with an emphasis on impaired drivers and traffic enforcement.

The Oxnard Police Department would like to remind those people who choose to celebrate New Year’s Eve with alcohol to drink responsibly. Designate a sober driver, call a friend, or call a taxi cab to get you home. The average fine amount for a first time DUI arrest in Ventura County is $13,500.

“OVER THE LIMIT, UNDER ARREST” is all around the state. If you choose to Drink and Drive on New Year’s Eve, expect to welcome 2010 behind bars.

The Oxnard Police Department has conducted several DUI enforcement operations this holiday season including DUI checkpoints, DUI warrant services, and court operations targeting drivers who became unlicensed following a DUI arrest. These operations are funded through grants from the California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) though the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA). All of these operations are 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.

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

DETAILS:

On 12-28-09 at 6:23 PM officers received a call of a possible shooting in the 900 block South “F” Street. Upon their arrival they located two victims that were suffering minor cuts from glass fragments. Both victims were medically treated and released from the scene.

They told investigators that the suspect’s had driven along side their vehicle and yelled something. The victims then said the suspect’s opened fire striking their vehicle several times. The suspect’s fled the area South on "F" Street.

Investigators suspect the incident is gang related, if anyone has information about the shooting they are encouraged to call Violent Crimes Detective Jeff McGreevy at (805) 385-3902 or remain anonymous by calling Crime Stoppers at 1 (800) 222-TIPS (8477)

An investigation is continuing.

DETAILS:

On the above date and time officers were dispatched to the 2500 block of El Dorado in the city of Oxnard regarding a subject in possession of a handgun. This street has been the scene of multiple gang related assaults in the past, including multiple gang related shootings. Patrol officers and Under Cover officers from the Special Enforcement Unit responded to the area. When the undercover officers arrived they observed a subject fitting the description that the reporting party had given in the area. The under cover officers identified this subject and an additional subject associating with him as documented gang members. These subjects were Hugo Sanchez and Edwind Zavala. When uniformed officers arrived in the area 4 of the subjects, including the two above mentioned adults, fled northbound along an access road adjacent to the agricultural field in the area. 5 others were detained at the scene. The 4 subjects who fled northbound were ultimately located and detained. These four subjects were arrested for delaying/obstructing police. Ortega also initially gave a false name to police, and was arrested for providing false information to police. Of the 5 subjects who did not run, 3 were cited and released at the scene for violation of probation. Each of them had gang terms, and they were in violation for associating with each other. After the subjects were detained, police searched the subjects and surrounding area for firearms. Police officers located a loaded revolver in the rear yard of a residence along the path that the four subjects who fled had taken.

An investigation is continuing.

DETAILS:

An attempt by Oxnard police to stop a motorist for a minor traffic infraction led to a short pursuit, crash, injury to a passenger and arrest of the driver for multiple felonies.

Officers Joe Floriano and Derek Stephens were on routine patrol when they observed a green Volvo fail to stop for a stop sign at First Street and Roosevelt Avenue. When the officers illuminated their overhead red and blue lights, the driver of the Volvo sped off and a short pursuit, lasting a total of 37 seconds, ensued.

The driver lost control of his car and collided into a fence in the 300 block of Cooper Road. The driver fled from the disabled car, leaving his injured passenger, Martina Elena Duran, 31 years, of Oxnard, behind. The driver was found hiding nearby and was taken into custody after a brief struggle with officers.

Manuel Simentel Lopez, 41 years, of Oxnard, was treated at St. John’s Regional Medical Center, for injuries sustained in the crash. Passenger Duran was also treated at St. John’s for her complaint of pain and was arrested for possession of narcotic paraphernalia and outstanding warrants.

Lopez’s charges included, felony evading, felony hit and run, driving on a suspended driver license, resisting arrest, possession of narcotic paraphernalia, being under the influence of a controlled substance and outstanding warrants.

Both subjects were booked into the Ventura County Jail. Bail for Lopez was set at $60,000.