***UPDATE TRAFFIC ADVISORY*** Edelweiss Street and Vineyard Avenue – TRAFFIC CLEAR

   NEWS RELEASE

DATE:                                   November 8, 2024

SUBJECT:                            Oxnard Man’s Death Ruled a Homicide

LOCATION:                         300 block E. Colonia Road, Oxnard 

VICTIM:                               Javier Melena, 42-year-old male Oxnard Resident

CONTACT:                          Michael Velasquez, Detective  

                                                (805) 385-7645 | [email protected]          

On October 31, 2024 at about 1931 hours, Emergency Medical Services (EMS) responded to a residence in the 300 block of East Colonia Road in Oxnard regarding a medical issue. When EMS arrived, they located 42-year-old Oxnard resident, Javier Melena, unresponsive. Life savings measures were taken, but ultimately Melena was pronounced deceased at the scene.

Oxnard Police officers responded to investigate the death and through the investigation they learned Melena had been a victim of a shooting in 2003, which left him severely injured and with a permanent disability. There were no signs of foul play believed to have contributed to his death. The Ventura County Medical Examiner’s Office elected to conduct an autopsy to determine a cause of death. On November 5, 2024 the autopsy was conducted and the Medical Examiner’s Office ruled the cause of death as a homicide based on complications Melena suffered from the 2003 shooting.

There were no suspects identified or arrested in the 2003 shooting. The Oxnard Police Department Major Crimes Unit will be conducting the investigation. This marks the 7^th homicide of 2024 in the city of Oxnard.

Investigators are urging anyone who may have any information regarding the 2003 shooting incident to contact Detective Michael Velasquez at (805) 385-7645 or [email protected]. The city of Oxnard offers a reward of $25,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of any individuals responsible for committing homicides within the city.

Also, anyone with information regarding this case or other criminal activity is encouraged to contact the Oxnard Police Department at (805) 385-7605, 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 1 (800) 222-8477. You can also visit this site: www.venturacountycrimestoppers.org to submit a tip via text or email.

NEWS RELEASE

DATE:           November 6, 2024

SUBJECT:    2025 Grant Kick-Off

CONTACT:   Mike Gens, Sergeant

                        (805) 385-7847 (Tue-Fri 7AM-5PM) | [email protected]

Office of Traffic Safety Awards $495,000.00 Grant to the Oxnard Police Department for Traffic Enforcement Program to Increase Safety on Roads

Oxnard, Calif. – The Oxnard Police Department announced today that it has received a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) to support its ongoing enforcement and education programs to help reduce the number of serious injuries and deaths on our roads. The grant program runs through September 2025.

Oxnard Police Chief Jason Benites stated, “This grant will allow us to continue to prioritize our efforts, using education and enforcement, to focus on serious factors such as speeding, distracted driving and impaired driving. It remains one of our main goals to continue keeping Oxnard drivers, bicyclists and pedestrians safe.”

The grant will provide additional programs and resources, including:

·         DUI checkpoints and patrols focused on stopping suspected impaired drivers.

·         High-visibility distracted driving enforcement operations targeting drivers in violation of California’s hands-free cell phone law.

·         Enforcement operations focused on the most dangerous driver behaviors that put the safety of people biking or walking at risk.

·         Enforcement operations focused on top violations that cause crashes: speeding, failure to yield, stop sign and/or red-light running, and improper turning or lane changes.

·         Community presentations on traffic safety issues such as distracted driving, impaired driving, speeding and bicycle and pedestrian safety.

·         Collaborative enforcement efforts with neighboring agencies.

·         Officer training and/or recertification: Standard Field Sobriety Test (SFST), Advanced Roadside Impaired Driving Enforcement (ARIDE) and Drug Recognition Expert (DRE).

The grant program will run through September 2025.

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

NEWS RELEASE

DATE:           November 5, 2024

SUBJECT:    Bicycle and Pedestrian Safety Enforcement

CONTACT:   Mike Gens, Sergeant

                        (805) 385-7847 (Tue-Fri 7AM-5PM) | michael.gens@oxnardpd.org

Bicycle and Pedestrian Safety Operation Planned for November 8^th, 2024

Oxnard, Calif. – The Oxnard Police Department will conduct a traffic safety operation on November 8^th, 2024 between 7:00 A.M. and 11:00 A.M. focused on the most dangerous driver behaviors that put the safety of people biking or walking at risk.

These violations include speeding, making illegal turns, failing to yield or provide the right- of-way to bicyclists or pedestrians, or failing to stop for signs and signals.   

The Oxnard Police Department offers steps drivers and pedestrians can take to greatly reduce the risk of getting injured or killed in a crash:

Pedestrians:

·         Be predictable. Use crosswalks when available.

·         Take notice of approaching vehicles and practice due care.

·         Do not walk or run into the path of a vehicle. At 30 mph, a driver needs at least 90 feet to stop.

·         Be visible. Make it easy for drivers to see you – wear light colors, reflective material and carry a flashlight, particularly at dawn, dusk or at night.

·         Be extra careful crossing streets or entering crosswalks at night when it is harder to see, or when crossing busier streets with more lanes and higher speed limits.

Drivers:

·         Do not speed, and slow down at intersections. Be prepared to stop for pedestrians at marked and unmarked crosswalks, and between intersections where pedestrians may cross.

·         Avoid blocking crosswalks while waiting to make a right-hand turn.

·         Never drive impaired.

Bicyclists:

·         Obey traffic laws, use hand signals, use lights at night (front white light and rear red reflector), and wear a helmet.

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

·         Avoid the door zone: do not ride too closely to parked cars.

·         If there’s a bike lane, use it, unless making a left turn, passing, or approaching a place where a right turn is allowed.

·         Yield to pedestrians. Bicyclists must yield the right-of-way to pedestrians with marked crosswalks or within unmarked crosswalks at intersections, and between intersections where pedestrians may cross.

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