NEWS RELEASE

DATE: May 2, 2022, 9:50 A.M.

SUBJECT: Juvenile Shot In Accidental Shooting

LOCATION: 1200 Block Rubio Circle, Oxnard, CA

CONTACT: Jason Radcliffe, Detective

(805) 385-7796

On May 2, 2022 at approximately 9:50 A.M., officers from the Oxnard Police Department were dispatched to St. John’s Hospital in reference to a shooting victim. When officers arrived, they contacted the victim, a 14-year-old female Oxnard resident, who had sustained a single gunshot wound to the upper torso. She was later transported to another local hospital and was listed in stable condition.

Investigators from the Violent Crimes Unit responded to assist. During the course of the investigation, it was determined that the juvenile had been shot at her residence in the 1200 block of Rubio Circle. Investigators determined that a family member had been in possession of a handgun and was showing the firearm to the juvenile when it discharged, striking the juvenile. The family member then transported her to the hospital. The investigation is ongoing and no further information is available at this time.

The Oxnard Police Department’s Violent Crimes 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 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 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.

DATE / TIME PREPARED: May 2, 2022 / 8:00 P.M.

The area of the traffic collision is now cleared. Thank you.

Commander Giles

Forwarded message –
From: Giles, Sharon <sharon.giles@oxnardpd.org>
Date: Tue, May 3, 2022 at 11:17 AM
Subject: Traffic Advisory – Southbound Rose Ave. at Oxnard Blvd.
To: DL – Press Releases <dl-pressreleases@oxnardpd.org>

Officers are on scene of a traffic collision involving a semi-truck with a load of celery that spilled onto the roadway. Traffic will be heavily impacted for several hours due to the collision investigation. Please use alternate routes.

Sharon Giles, Commander
Oxnard Police Department
Patrol Services
Sun-Wed, Dayshift (0600-1600)

Sharon.Giles@Oxnardpd.org

Sharon Giles, Commander
Oxnard Police Department
Patrol Services
Sun-Wed, Dayshift (0600-1600)

Sharon.Giles@Oxnardpd.org

NEWS RELEASE

DATE: May 2, 2022, 5:30 P.M.

SUBJECT: Shooting Incident

LOCATION: 1300 Block West Channel Islands Boulevard, Oxnard, CA

CONTACT: Carey Everhart, Detective

(805) 486-6228

carey.everhart@oxnardpd.org

On May 2, 2022 at approximately 5:30 P.M., officers from the Oxnard Police Department were dispatched to the 1300 block of West Channel Islands Boulevard in reference to a shooting victim. When officers arrived, they located the victim, a 34-year-old male Oxnard resident, down in the parking lot, suffering from a single gunshot wound to the lower body. He was later transported to a local hospital where he was listed in stable condition.

Investigators from the Violent Crimes Unit responded to assist. During the course of the investigation, investigators learned the victim had been involved in a verbal altercation with the suspect in the area of Channel Islands Boulevard and Ventura Road. At some point, the suspect produced a firearm and shot at the victim, striking him one time. The suspect then fled the area in a vehicle. The investigation is ongoing and no further information is available at this time. Anyone who may have witnessed the incident or has information is encouraged to contact Detective Carey Everhart at 805-486-6228 or email him at carey.everhart@oxnardpd.org.

DATE / TIME PREPARED: May 2, 2022 / 8:10 P.M.

NEWS RELEASE

DATE: May 3, 2022; 5:10PM

SUBJECT: Officers arrest suspect after shooting.

SUSPECTS: Irvin Leon, 34 year old Oxnard resident

LOCATION: Lathrop Memorial Park, 500 East Guava Street , Oxnard

CONTACT: Kevin Baysinger, Commander

(805) 385-7600 | kevin.baysinger@oxnardpd.org

On the above date and time, Oxnard Police officers were in the area of Lathrop park on an unrelated call for service. Their attention was drawn to the sound of shots fired from the north side of Lathrop Memorial Park. Officers observed Leon running westbound through the park directly from the area where the shots were heard. The officers ran towards Leon to contact him; as they did Leon discarded an object later determined to be a firearm. Leon was detained without further incident.

Officers recovered a loaded .45 caliber handgun that Leon discarded. During a search of Leon, officers located usable amounts of controlled substances. Officers also located .45 caliber casings from the area where Leon had run. No victims were located.

Leon was also found to be a person prohibited from possessing a firearm. He was charged with multiple firearms and controlled substance violations.

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: May 2, 2022

SUBJECT: Bicycle and Pedestrian Safety Month

CONTACT: Mike Wood, Corporal

(805) 385-7749 | Mike.Wood@oxnardpd.org

May is Bicycle Safety Month: Share the Road and Look Out for One Another

Oxnard, Calif. — May is National Bicycle Safety Month, and the Oxnard Police Department reminds drivers to follow the speed limit and look out for people on bike rides.

To help keep people biking or walking safe, the Oxnard Police Department will conduct a traffic safety operation on May 3, 2022 from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. as well as additional operations throughout the month of May. Each operation will be focused on the most dangerous driver behaviors such as speeding, making illegal turns, failure to yield to bicyclists or pedestrians, and stop sign/red light running.

The Oxnard Police Department suggests the following safety tips for bicyclists and drivers:

Drivers

· Slow down and follow the speed limit. Be careful traveling through intersections.
· Look carefully for bicyclists and pedestrians before making a turn or opening a car door near streets or bike paths.

· Be patient when traveling behind a bicyclist. Maintain at minimum three feet of space when passing or overtaking a bicyclist.

· Never drive distracted or impaired.

Bike Riders

· Use lights at night (at minimum, a front white light and rear red reflector).

· Although not required for riders 18 and older, always wear a properly secured helmet. Helmets significantly reduce the chance of a head injury in the event of a crash.

· Bicyclists must travel in the same direction of traffic and have the same requirements as any slow-moving vehicle.

· Yield to pedestrians, just as a driver would. Pedestrians have the right-of-way within marked crosswalks or within unmarked crosswalks at intersections.

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: May 3, 2022

SUBJECT: Gang Member Arrested with a loaded Firearm

SUSPECTS: Juan Contreras, 25-year-old Oxnard Resident

LOCATION: 200 Block of South Juanita Avenue, Oxnard

CONTACT: Brandon Ordelheide, Sergeant

(805) 256-5121 Brandon.Ordelheide@oxnardpd.org

During the month of April 2022, The Oxnard Special Enforcement Unit (SEU) and the Oxnard Drug Enforcement Unit (DEU) began an investigation into Juan Contreras for narcotics sales and being in possession of a firearm. Contreras is a documented gang member and is currently on felony probation for being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm. Contreras also had a felony warrant issued for his arrest for a violation of probation. During the investigation, DEU detectives obtained a search warrant for Contreras’ residence.

On May 3, 2022, with the assistance of the Oxnard SWAT Team, Oxnard Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Unit (UAV), and Ventura Police Department, DEU detectives served a search warrant at Contreras’ residence in the 200 block of South Juanita Avenue. Contreras was contacted at the residence and taken into custody for his outstanding felony warrant. During a search of the residence, detectives located a loaded P80 “ghost” gun in Contreras’ possession. This is Contreras’ third arrest for being in possession of a loaded firearm.

The Oxnard Police Department is committed to reducing narcotics related crimes in the City of Oxnard. 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 by calling the Ventura County Crime Stoppers. at (800)222-8477. You can also visit their website: www.venturacountycrimestoppers.org to submit a tip via text or email.

Sharon Giles, Commander
Oxnard Police Department
Patrol Services
Sun-Wed, Dayshift (0600-1600)

Sharon.Giles@Oxnardpd.org

NEWS RELEASE

DATE: April 20, 2022

SUBJECT: DUI and Driver’s License Checkpoint and Saturation Patrol Results

CONTACT: Ricardo Vazquez, Sergeant

(805) 385-7847 | ricardo.vazquez@oxnardpd.org

Two impaired drivers arrested during a DUI checkpoint and saturation patrols

On April 20, 2022, between the hours of 5:00 p.m. and 11:30 p.m., Oxnard officers held a DUI and driver’s license checkpoint on Oxnard Blvd. at Glenwood Drive. Specially trained officers also conducted a citywide DUI enforcement saturation. The checkpoint and DUI saturation patrols resulted in two DUI arrests, three misdemeanor/felony warrant arrests, and 62 traffic citations.

Checkpoint locations and DUI saturation patrols are based on a history of crashes and DUI arrests. The primary purpose of checkpoints is not to make arrests but to promote public safety by deterring drivers from driving impaired.

Funding for this checkpoint and DUI enforcement patrols was provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

NEWS RELEASE

DATE: April 20, 2022

SUBJECT: Narcotics Sales and Firearms Arrest

SUSPECTS: Arturo Guzman, 58-year-old Oxnard resident

Gerardo Vega, 54-year-old Oxnard resident

LOCATION: 300 Block North Garfield Avenue, Oxnard

300 Block North Roosevelt Avenue, Oxnard

CONTACT: Brandon Ordelheide, Sergeant

(805) 256-5121 Brandon.Ordelheide@oxnardpd.org

On April 20, 2022 the Ventura County Money Laundering Task Force (VCMLTF) completed an investigation into narcotics sales occurring at two residences in the 300 block of North Garfield Avenue and one residence in the 300 block of North Roosevelt Avenue.

With the assistance of the Oxnard SWAT team, Oxnard Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Unit (UAV), Ventura SWAT Team, Ventura County Sheriffs, and Special Agents from the FBI, VCMLTF served a search warrant at all three locations. During a search of the residences, detectives located a large quantity of Cocaine, five firearms, and further evidence of narcotics sales.

Arturo Guzman was placed under arrest for several narcotics and firearm related charges, all felonies. Gerardo Vega was also placed under arrest for several narcotics and firearm related charges, all felonies. Both subjects were booked into the Ventura County Jail with a bail request of $250,000. The Ventura County Money Laundering Task Force (VCMLTF) is comprised of the Oxnard Drug Enforcement Unit (DEU) Detectives and Special Agents from the FBI.

NEWS RELEASE

DATE: April 18, 2022

SUBJECT: DUI and Driver’s License Checkpoint and DUI Enforcement Patrols

CONTACT: Mike Wood, Corporal

(805) 385-7847 | Mike.Wood@oxnardpd.org

Oxnard Police Department to hold DUI Checkpoint and use extra officers to patrol for suspected impaired drivers

The Oxnard Police Department will have additional officers on patrol on Wednesday, April 20, 2022, specifically looking for drivers suspected of being under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs. In addition, the Oxnard Police Department will hold a DUI/driver’s license checkpoint at an undisclosed location within the city. The DUI Checkpoint and DUI patrols will be from 4:30 p.m. to 11:30 p.m.

DUI checkpoints and patrols are done in locations with a history of DUI-related collisions and arrests. During the checkpoint, officers will be looking for signs of alcohol and/or drug impairment, with officers checking drivers for proper licensing.

In 2018, 1,069 people were killed on California roads in crashes involving drivers who had a blood alcohol content over the legal limit (.08 or above). The Oxnard Police Department reminds the public that impaired driving is not just from alcohol. Prescription or over-the-counter medications with an operating heavy machinery warning on the label can also impair. While medicinal and recreational marijuana are legal, driving under the influence of marijuana is illegal.

If you plan on drinking or are taking medications that can affect your ability to drive, please take these precautions to avoid a DUI:

· Always use a designated sober driver – a friend who is not drinking, ride-share, cab, or public transportation – to get home.

· Walking while impaired is also dangerous. Have someone sober walk you home or stay with you until a sober driver is available to pick you up.

· Report drunk drivers – Call 911.

· Hosting a party? Offer nonalcoholic drinks. Monitor who is drinking and how they are getting home.

A DUI arrest is not cheap. Drivers charged with DUI face an average of $13,500 in fines and penalties, as well as a suspended license and possible jail time.

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