OXNARD POLICE DEPARTMENT

NEWS RELEASE

INCIDENT:	National Bicycle Safety Month
DATE/TIME:	May 2019
PREPARED BY:	Jamie Brown, Senior Officer
CONTACT PERSON AND CONTACT INFO:	Jamie Brown, Senior Officer (805) 385-7749 [email protected]

DETAILS:

Oxnard Police Department Urges Drivers and Bicyclists to ‘Share the Road’

May is National Bicycle Safety Month

May is National Bicycle Safety Month and the Oxnard Police Department encourages drivers and bicyclists to share the road safely not just for the month of May, but every month of the year.

Bicycle riders must follow the same rules of the road as drivers, including stopping at stop signs, yielding to pedestrians and not riding distracted or under the influence of alcohol or drugs. California law requires drivers to allow at least three feet of space when passing a bicycle.

In an effort to educate drivers and bicyclists on using roadways safely, the Oxnard Police Department will have extra officers on patrol May 11^th, May 13^th, and May 23^rd looking for violations made by drivers and bicyclists that increase the risk of crashes. Such violations include failing to yield, speeding, improper turning, riding a bike on the wrong side of the road, or not following stop signs or signals.

The Oxnard Police Department suggests following these tips to ensure the safety of everyone using roadways:

Drivers should look behind them before making a turn at an intersection, especially if crossing into a designated bike lane.
Drivers should use extra caution backing up or leaving a parking space.
Bicyclists should go with the flow of traffic and let faster traffic pass.
Bicyclists should make themselves visible and wear brightly colored clothing.
Bicyclists are advised to use lights from dusk to dawn (front white light and rear red flashing light or reflectors).
Bicyclists should always wear a helmet and use hand signals when turning or stopping.
Both drivers and bicyclists should avoid distractions like using their cell phone.

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

DATE / TIME PREPARED: May 2, 2019 / 10:30 a.m.

OXNARD POLICE DEPARTMENT

NEWS RELEASE

INCIDENT:	DUI/Driver’s License Checkpoint
DATE/TIME:	May 3, 2019 7:00 p.m. to 2:00 a.m.
PREPARED BY:	Jamie Brown, Senior Officer
CONTACT PERSON AND CONTACT INFO:	Jamie Brown, Senior Officer (805) 385-7749 [email protected]

DETAILS:

DUI/Driver’s License Checkpoint Planned this Friday

The Oxnard Police Department will be conducting a DUI/Driver’s License Checkpoint on Friday, May 3, 2019, at an undisclosed location within the city limits between the hours of 7:00 p.m. to 2:00 a.m.

DUI checkpoints are placed in locations based on collision statistics and frequency of DUI arrests. Officers will be looking for signs of alcohol and/or drug impairment, with officers checking drivers for proper licensing.

The Oxnard Police Department reminds drivers that “DUI Doesn’t Just Mean Booze.” If you take prescription drugs, particularly those with a driving or operating machinery warning on the label, you might be impaired enough to get a DUI. Marijuana can also be impairing, especially in combination with alcohol or other drugs, and can result in a DUI.

The Oxnard Police Department offers these reminders to ensure you have a safe night of fun that doesn’t involve a DUI:

Always use a designated sober driver – a friend who is not drinking, ride-share, cab or public transportation – to get home.
See someone who is clearly impaired try and drive? Take the keys and help them make other arrangements to find a sober way home.
Report drunk drivers – Call 911.
Hosting a party? Offer nonalcoholic drinks. Monitor who are drinking and how they are getting home.

Getting home safely is cheap, but getting a DUI is not! Drivers caught driving impaired and charged with DUI can expect the impact of a DUI arrest to be upwards of $13,500. This includes fines, fees, DUI classes, license suspension, and other expenses not to mention possible jail time.

Funding for this checkpoint is provided to the Oxnard Police Department by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

DATE / TIME PREPARED: May 1, 2019 / 5:30 p.m.

OXNARD POLICE DEPARTMENT

NEWS RELEASE

INCIDENT:	Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month
DATE:	May 2019
PREPARED BY:	Jamie Brown, Senior Officer
CONTACT PERSON AND CONTACT INFO:	Jamie Brown, Senior Officer (805) 385-7749 [email protected]

DETAILS:

May is Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month

Drivers are encouraged to “Share the Road”

The warmer weather means a lot more motorcycles will be out on the road across California. May is Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month, and the Oxnard Police Department is taking the opportunity to remind drivers and motorcycle riders to share the road and look out for one another.

During the month of May, the Oxnard Police Department will step up enforcement specifically geared toward stopping drivers and motorcycle riders for traffic violations that increase the risk of crashes. Additional officers will be deployed on May 11^th and May 26^th for directed motorcycle safety enforcement.

With nearly 900,000 registered motorcycles in the state, Californians enjoy a hobby that can be challenging and does not have the same protections as drivers in the event of a crash. In 2017, 576 people were killed in motorcycle crashes statewide, a nearly 17 percent increase from 2015.

The Oxnard Police Department offers these best safety practices for drivers and motorcycle riders:

Drivers:

Check your mirrors and blind spots. Make sure your vehicle’s rear and side-view mirrors are adjusted properly.
Use your signal when changing lanes. If you see a motorcycle with a signal on, make sure the motorcycle is turning before proceeding.
Slow down behind motorcycles and keep your distance.
Never share a lane with a motorcycle.
Be aware of motorcycles lane splitting, which is legal. Give riders enough room to pass.
Always look twice at intersections and allow enough space for a motorcycle to clear the roadway before making a turn.

Motorcyclists:

Always wear a helmet, bright colors, and protective gear.
Use your turn signal at every lane change or turn.
Turn lights on even during the day.
Keep your distance.
Consider the width of lanes, roadway and weather conditions when lane splitting.
Avoid lane splitting next to larger vehicles such as big rigs, buses, and motorhomes.
It is more dangerous to split lanes at higher speeds. It is safer to split between the far-left lanes.

The Oxnard Police Department encourages all motorcycle riders, new and experienced, to enroll in the California Highway Patrol’s motorcycle training course. For more information or to find a training site near you, visit www.californiamotorcyclist.com.

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

OXNARD POLICE DEPARTMENT

NEWS RELEASE

INCIDENT:	Subjects in Possession of Loaded Firearms & Ammunition
DATE/TIME:	April 29, 2019, @ 11:40 P.M
LOCATION:	1900 Block of Alexander Street, Oxnard
VICTIM(S):	State of California
SUSPECT(S):	Juan Palomarez, 19-year-old Oxnard resident Giovanny Sanchez, 23-year-old Oxnard resident Unnamed Juvenile, 16-year-old Oxnard resident
PREPARED BY:	Robert Flinn, Sergeant [email protected]
CONTACT PERSON AND CONTACT INFO:	Christopher Williams, Commander [email protected] 805-207-7234

DETAILS:

On April 29, 2019, at approximately 10:40 p.m., officers from the Oxnard Police Department Special Enforcement Unit and K-9 Unit contacted a group of adult and juvenile subjects loitering in the alley of Alexander Street in the 1900 block. Upon approach by the officers, the group attempted to flee. Two of the subjects in the group discarded two loaded handguns as they fled. All six subjects were arrested at the scene without incident. Both firearms were recovered. The adult suspect who had possession of the firearm was identified as Juan Palomarez. The second male with the firearm was a juvenile, name withheld. A third suspect was arrested for being a felon in possession of ammunition, a felony. He was identified as Giovanny Sanchez. The remaining subjects were arrested on various misdemeanor charges. This group was affiliated with a criminal street gang in the City of Oxnard.

The Oxnard Police Department’s Special Enforcement 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 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 also remain anonymous by calling the Ventura County Crime Stoppers at (800) 222-8477. You can also visit this site: http://www.venturacountycrimestoppers.org to submit a tip via text or email.

DATE / TIME PREPARED: April 30, 2019, at 2:30 A.M.

OXNARD POLICE DEPARTMENT

NEWS RELEASE

INCIDENT:	DUI/Driver’s License Checkpoint Results
DATE/TIME:	April 27, 2019 8:00 p.m. to 3:00 a.m.
LOCATION:	City of Oxnard
PREPARED BY:	Jamie Brown, Senior Officer
CONTACT PERSON AND CONTACT INFO:	Jamie Brown, Senior Officer (805) 385-7749 [email protected]

DETAILS:

DUI Checkpoint nets two arrest

The Oxnard Police Department Traffic Unit arrested two impaired drivers while conducting a DUI/Driver’s license checkpoint on April 27, 2019. The checkpoint was conducted at Ventura Road south of Devonshire Drive between the hours of 8:00 p.m. and 3:00 a.m., resulting in the following:

1,323 vehicles screened
2 DUI-alcohol suspects arrested
7 drivers cited for operating a vehicle unlicensed or while suspended / revoked
12 citations issued
1 vehicle towed

Checkpoints are placed in locations that have the greatest opportunity for achieving drunk and drugged driving deterrence and provide the greatest safety for officers and the public.

In recent years, California has seen a disturbing increase in drug-impaired driving crashes. Oxnard PD supports the new effort from the Office of Traffic Safety that aims to educate all drivers that “DUI Doesn’t Just Mean Booze.” If you take prescription drugs, particularly those with a driving or operating machinery warning on the label, you might be impaired enough to get a DUI. Marijuana can also be impairing, especially in combination with alcohol or other drugs, and can result in a DUI.

Studies of California drivers have shown that 30 percent of drivers in fatal crashes had one or more drugs in their systems. A study of active drivers showed more tested positive for drugs that may impair driving (14 percent) than did for alcohol (7.3 percent). Of the drugs, marijuana was most prevalent, at 7.4 percent, slightly more than alcohol.

Oxnard PD offers these reminders to ensure a fun night doesn’t get spoiled with a DUI:

Decide before you go out whether you plan to drink or drive. You can’t do both.
If you plan to drink, designate a sober driver before going out, or map out another way to get home safely by taking a cab, ride-share services like Uber or Lyft, or using public transportation. You can also look up designated driver services in your area using the National Directory of Designated Driver Services (NDDDS).
If you are a designated driver, bars and restaurants statewide have created non-alcoholic specialty drinks (“DDrinks”) for sober drivers: http://bit.ly/OTSDDrinks
If you happen to see a drunk driver on the road, call 911. Offer a description of the vehicle, location, and direction of travel.
See your friend or other patron impaired trying to get behind the wheel? Take the keys or help them make other arrangements to get where they are going safely.

Drivers caught driving impaired and charged with DUI can expect the impact of a DUI arrest to be approximately $13,500. This includes fines, fees, DUI classes, license suspension, and other expenses not to mention possible jail time.

The checkpoint was funded by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Whether by bike, car, motorcycle, or walking, the Oxnard Police Department encourages everyone to be a part of the solution and ‘Go Safely California.’

DATE / TIME PREPARED: April 28, 2019 / 3:00 a.m.

/30872-2/

NEWS RELEASE

INCIDENT:	Attempted Kidnapping Child Annoying
DATE/TIME:	April 26, 2019/ 3:00 p.m.
LOCATION:	1500 block South Oxnard Blvd.
VICTIM(S):	12-year-old female (name withheld)
SUSPECT(S):	Rogelio Hernandez (age 23), transient
PREPARED BY:	Robin Whitney, Patrol Commander
CONTACT PERSON AND CONTACT INFO:	Robin Whitney, Patrol Commander (805) 385-7771 [email protected]

DETAILS:

On 4/26/19, at around 3:00 p.m., a 12-year-old female was walking home from school in the 1500 block of South Oxnard Blvd. when suspect Rogelio Hernandez (age 23) began to call to her and annoy her with other gestures. As the victim continued to walk away from Hernandez, he attempted to grab her. The victim feared for her safety and ran away from Hernandez. When officers arrived on scene they located Hernandez a short distance away and detained him. Hernandez was positively identified by the victim and arrested for a felony charge of attempted kidnapping and a misdemeanor charge of child annoying.

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 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: April 27, 2019/ 7:40 a.m.

PRESS RELEASE

EVENT:	Funds available for community organizations to combat drug abuse and divert gang activity
DATE/TIME:	April 25, 2019
LOCATION:	City of Oxnard
PREPARED BY:	Eric S. Sonstegard, Assistant Police Chief
CONTACT PERSON AND CONTACT INFO:	Eric S. Sonstegard, Assistant Police Chief [email protected] (805) 385-7801

DETAILS: The Oxnard Police Department participates with outside agencies in the investigation and prosecution of narcotics related crimes. Assets seized are proportionately shared among the participating agencies. The California Health & Safety Code requires that a portion of the seized assets “shall be used for the sole purpose of funding programs designed to combat drug abuse and divert gang activity…It is the intent of the Legislature to cause the development and continuation of positive intervention programs for high-risk elementary and secondary school age students.”

The Oxnard Police Department invites community-based organizations interested in this funding to visit https://www.oxnardpd.org/community-affairs/asset-forfeiture-community-funds/ and complete an application for consideration and review. As the City of Oxnard continues to look for viable options to the gang lifestyle for our youth, the Oxnard Police Department is excited for this opportunity to work with the community to provide healthy and productive alternatives.

The deadline for applications to be submitted is Friday, May 24, 2019 at 5:00 p.m.

DATE / TIME PREPARED: April 25, 2019, 10:00 a.m.

INCIDENT:	DUI/Driver’s License Checkpoint
DATE/TIME:	April 27, 2019 8:00 p.m. to 3:00 a.m.
PREPARED BY:	Jamie Brown, Senior Officer
CONTACT PERSON AND CONTACT INFO:	Jamie Brown, Senior Officer (805) 385-7749 [email protected]

DETAILS:

DUI/Driver’s License Checkpoint Planned this Saturday

The Oxnard Police Department will be conducting a DUI/Driver’s License Checkpoint on Saturday, April 27, 2019, at an undisclosed location within the city limits between the hours of 8:00 p.m. to 3:00 a.m.

DUI Checkpoints are placed in locations based on collision statistics and frequency of DUI arrests. Officers will be looking for signs of alcohol and/or drug impairment, with officers checking drivers for proper licensing.

The Oxnard Police Department offers these reminders to ensure you have a safe night of fun that doesn’t involve a DUI:

Always use a designated sober driver – a friend who is not drinking, ride-share, cab or public transportation – to get home.
See someone who is clearly impaired try and drive? Take the keys and help them make other arrangements to find a sober way home.
Report drunk drivers – Call 911.
Hosting a party? Offer nonalcoholic drinks. Monitor who are drinking and how they are getting home.

Funding for this checkpoint is provided to the Oxnard Police Department by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

DATE / TIME PREPARED: April 25, 2019 / 1:30 p.m.

OXNARD POLICE DEPARTMENT

NEWS RELEASE

INCIDENT:	Separate Auto Theft Investigations Lead to Arrests
LOCATION:	Rose Avenue and Gonzales Road; Garfield Avenue and Cooper Road
SUSPECT(S):	Baltazar Martinez, 30, years old Monique Rodriguez, 30 years old
PREPARED BY:	Luis Mancha, Sergeant 805-385-7632
CONTACT PERSON AND CONTACT INFO:	Charles Buttell, Detective [email protected] (805) 385-7600

DETAILS:

On April 22, 2019, members of the Oxnard Police Department Auto Theft Task Force were working in collaboration with members of the Ventura County Auto Theft Task Force (VenCATT) to address stolen vehicle issues in the City of Oxnard. Detectives recovered a 2012 Honda Accord in the area of Rose Avenue and Gonzales Road. Baltazar Martinez, 30 years old was arrested for driving the stolen vehicle, identity theft, and various narcotics-related charges.

On April 23, 2019, members of the Oxnard Police Department Auto Theft Task Force recovered a 2003 Toyota Corolla in the area of Garfield Avenue and Cooper Road. Officers stopped the vehicle and arrested the driver identified as Monique Rodriguez, 30 years old. Rodriguez arrested for driving a stolen vehicle and for possession of stolen property.

DATE / TIME PREPARED: April 25, 2019, at 2 p.m.

OXNARD POLICE DEPARTMENT

NEWS RELEASE

INCIDENT:	Multi-Location Search Warrant Service
DATE/TIME:	April 24, 2019, 5:00 AM
LOCATION:	Multiple Locations In The City Of Oxnard
SUSPECT(S):	Mark Hernandez, 18-Year-Old Oxnard Resident Antonio Soto, 32-Year-Old Port Hueneme Resident Gabriel Guillen, 18-Year-Old Oxnard Resident Cristobal Gonzalez, 19-Year-Old Oxnard Resident Jose Villafana Cruz, 40-Year-Old Oxnard Resident 17-Year-Old Port Hueneme Resident 17-Year-Old Oxnard Resident
PREPARED BY:	Mike Johnson, Sergeant [email protected] (805) 486-6211
CONTACT PERSON AND CONTACT INFO:	Carey Everhart, Detective [email protected] (805) 486-6228

DETAILS:

On April 24^th at approximately 5:00 A.M., Investigators from the Oxnard Police Department Violent Crimes Unit served search warrants at 17 different locations within the City of Oxnard and Port Hueneme. The service of the warrants involved over 150 personnel from the Oxnard Police Department, Ventura County Sheriff’s Office, FBI, Ventura Police Department, Ventura County District Attorney’s Office, Port Hueneme Police Department, and the Ventura County Probation Department.

The search warrant was related to a series of violent crimes committed by members of an Oxnard based criminal street gang over a year long period. These crimes included robberies, shootings, and stabbings. Of the 17 locations, 13 were in the South and East Districts of Oxnard, including several in the Southwinds Neighborhood, and four were in the City of Port Hueneme. During the service, a significant amount of gang paraphernalia was seized. In addition, five adults and two juveniles were taken into custody for outstanding warrants, probation violations, and possession of narcotics paraphernalia.

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.