News Release: St. Patrick’s Day DUI Enforcement (3-16-23)

 NEWS RELEASE

DATE:         March 16, 2023

SUBJECT:  St. Patrick’s Day DUI Enforcement

CONTACT: Mike Wood, Corporal  

         (805) 385-7749 | [email protected]

Be a Saint on St. Patrick’s Day. Plan Ahead and

Celebrate Responsibly with a Designated Sober Driver

Don't push your luck this St. Patrick's Day by letting impaired drivers drive. The Oxnard Police Department will be on alert for suspected impaired drivers and reminds the community to celebrate responsibly by not driving under the influence.

Additional officers will be on patrol March 17 from 7 p.m. to 2 a.m. looking for drivers suspected of driving under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), St. Patrick’s Day is one of the deadliest times on our nation’s roads. In 2020, more than 11,000 people in the U.S. died in drunk-driving crashes.

The Oxnard Police Department would like to remind the community that alcohol is not the only substance that can cause impairment. Marijuana, prescription medications, or over-the-counter drugs may also impair. Do your research and understand how certain drugs may affect your driving ability.

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

DATE: March 17, 2023
SUBJECT: Oxnard Police release Critical Incident Community Briefing video of officer involved shooting incident, and additional information
LOCATION: 100 Block of West Fourth Street, Oxnard
SUSPECT: Adam Barcenas, Hispanic Male, 60-year-old Oxnard Resident
CONTACT: Alex Arnett, Commander | (805) 385-7620 | [email protected]

The Oxnard Police Department has  released a Critical Incident Community Briefing video of the officer involved shooting incident that occurred at approximately 6:00 A.M. on Sunday, March 12, 2023.  

The public can view the Critical Incident Community Briefing video on the Oxnard Police Department’s YouTube channel: https://youtu.be/8IHy6iYPh2w . The link to the Critical Incident Community Briefing video will also be available on the Oxnard Police Department’s Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram accounts.

Immediately preceding the shooting incident, three Oxnard Police Department officers were conducting a DUI investigation on the north side of the 100 block of West Fourth Street, between ‘A' Street and Oxnard Boulevard. Officers Shayn Schwartz, Alexus Santos, and Bryce Parker were finishing up the investigation.  Officer Santos was standing on the sidewalk with a member of the public when the suspect, Adam Barcenas, quickly approached from the west. Barcenas was not involved with the DUI investigation.  Barcenas was yelling at the officers, repeatedly stating that he hated them.  Barcenas was wielding a steel bar, approximately five feet in length, with both hands.  Barcenas continued to yell at the officers as he advanced towards them.  Officers Santos and Parker drew their tasers, and Officer Schwartz drew his service firearm.  The member of the public was directed to move away from the danger, and the officers commanded Barcenas to put the bar down.  Barcenas ignored the officers’ commands and continued to advance towards the officers in an aggressive and threatening manner.

Barcenas advanced on Officer Schwartz, and Officer Schwartz fired four shots from his firearm. Three of the four bullets struck Barcenas. Barcenas was shot in the inner thigh of his right leg, his left hip and his left upper torso. Simultaneously, Officer Santos fired her taser. The taser probes struck Barcenas, but embedded in Barcenas’ clothing and did not penetrate his skin. Officer Parker did not fire his taser.

Following the shooting, the officers rendered first aid until EMS personnel arrived on scene. Barcenas was transported to the Ventura County Medical Center, and was pronounced deceased at approximately 8:30 A.M.

Witnesses at the scene provided statements to detectives.

The officers, as well as the members of the public who were present at the scene, were not harmed during the incident.

All three officers are assigned to the department’s Patrol Division.  At the time of this news release, the  officers are on paid administrative leave, which is standard procedure.

Officer Schwartz has been a police officer with the Oxnard Police Department since April 2022. Prior to becoming an Oxnard police officer, Officer Schwartz was employed as a police officer with the Burbank Police Department from August 2018 through March 2022.  

Officer Santos has been a police officer with the Oxnard Police Department since April 2020.

Officer Parker has been an Oxnard police officer since April 2022, but was employed as a deputy with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department from October 2019 through March 2022 before joining the Oxnard Police Department.

None of the involved officers have previously been involved in a shooting incident.  

Oxnard Police Chief Jason Benites commented on the process of investigating fatal officer-involved incidents: “Whenever there is an officer-involved shooting, or the officers are otherwise involved in a fatal incident, three separate investigations are set into motion:

First, the Oxnard Police Department’s Major Crimes Investigations Unit conducts a thorough investigation of the entire incident.  Once completed, this investigation will be submitted to the District Attorney’s Office for legal review.  The Ventura County District Attorney’s Office monitors this investigation as it is underway; their office was notified of the shooting, and promptly responded for their investigation.

Second, our Professional Standards Division conducts a separate administrative investigation that will determine whether the officers’ actions were lawful and within policy. This internal affairs investigation will also include a review of tactics that were used during this incident. We also review any applicable policies.

Third, there will also be an investigation by the Ventura County District Attorney’s Office to determine whether the use of force was legally justified, also referred to as ‘justifiable homicide.’  It is also important to note that it has been their longstanding practice to issue a public report at the conclusion of their investigation.”

Detectives are requesting that anyone who might have witnessed the incident, or has additional information to contact Detective Meagan Tobey at (805) 385-7755 or [email protected].

NEWS RELEASE

DATE:           Sunday, March 12, 2023

SUBJECT:    Officer Involved Shooting

LOCATION: 100 Block of West Fourth Street, Oxnard

VICTIM:       Oxnard Police Officer, name withheld

SUSPECT:    60-year old male, Oxnard resident, name withheld

CONTACT:  Alex Arnett, Commander

                        (805) 385-7620 | [email protected]

At approximately 6:00 a.m. on March 12, 2023,  three Oxnard Police Officers were conducting a DUI investigation in the 100 block of West Fourth Street.

During the investigation, the 60-year old male suspect, who was not involved in the traffic stop, abruptly ran towards the officers while in possession of a five foot long steel bar. The suspect was wielding the bar in a threatening manner with both hands. The officers gave the male verbal commands to stop and to put the bar down. The male ignored the officer's commands, and continued to advance on the officers while still wielding the steel bar in a threatening manner. Two of the police officers drew their department issued tasers, and one police officer drew his service weapon. The suspect advanced to within just a few feet of one of the police officers, prompting the officer involved shooting.

The suspect was struck by gunfire. The officers immediately rendered aid to the suspect until emergency medical personnel arrived. The suspect was transported to the Ventura County Medical Center, and despite the lifesaving efforts of the medical staff, was pronounced deceased at approximately 8:30 a.m.

The officers, as well as the members of the public who were present, were not harmed.

The driver and passengers involved in the DUI investigation provided detailed statements to detectives.

The officers’ body-worn cameras captured the entire incident. The Oxnard Police Department will share this footage in a critical incident briefing video later this week.

Per standard protocol for officer-involved shootings, the officers have been placed on administrative leave as the investigation progresses.

The Oxnard Police Department’s Major Crimes Unit, in conjunction with the Ventura County District Attorney’s Office, is investigating the incident. Detectives are requesting that anyone who might have witnessed the incident, or has additional information to contact Detective Meagan Tobey at (805) 385-7755 or [email protected].

NEWS RELEASE

DATE:            March 8, 2023 / 11:07 PM

SUBJECT:   Subject Arrested for Firearm Possession After Vehicle Pursuit

SUSPECTS:  Javier Cortez; 21 year-old Oxnard resident

LOCATION:  1200 block of W. Hemlock St., Oxnard

CONTACT:   Rocky Marquez, Commander

                      (805) 385-7600 [email protected]

On March 8^th at about 11:07 PM, officers from the Oxnard Police Department conducted a traffic stop for a vehicle code violation in the 1200 block of W. Hemlock St. in Oxnard. The driver of the vehicle, Javier Cortez, failed to yield to officers and was arrested after a short vehicle pursuit. A search of the vehicle produced narcotic paraphernalia and a loaded 12-gauge shotgun. Cortez was charged with attempting to evade police and multiple-firearms related charges.

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.  Booking photographs for adult felony arrest available on the department website:  www.oxnardpd.org under crime & safety, and booking / call logs. 

NEWS RELEASE

DATE:            March 4, 2023; 1:20 PM  

SUBJECT:     Missing Dependent Adult

                       Blair Harper, 89 year old male

LOCATION:   900 Block West Channel Islands Boulevard

CONTACT:    Edgar Fernandez, Commander

                       (805) 385-7600 | [email protected]

The Oxnard Police Department is seeking the public’s assistance in locating a missing dependent adult.  Blair Harper, an 89 year old male, was reported missing from his residence in the 900 block of W. Channel Islands Boulevard, just after 1:00PM today.  Blair is described as a white male, 5’03” / 150 lbs with white hair.  He was last seen wearing a light blue and white checkered shirt and beige pants.

It is not known where Blair may have been headed.  If you see him, please call the Oxnard Police Department dispatch center at (805) 385-7740.

Date/Time Prepared:  March 4, 2023 / 2:44 PM