NEWS RELEASE

DATE: August 4, 2024 (4:08 p.m.)

SUBJECT: Firearm and narcotics arrest

SUSPECT: Isaac Guzman, 27-year-old Oxnard resident

LOCATION: 5000 Block S. C Street, Oxnard

CONTACT: Mike Wood, Sergeant

(805) 385-7746 | [email protected]

(Friday – Sunday 2PM-2AM)

On August 4, 2024, at about 4:30 a.m., Oxnard police officers conducted a traffic stop in the 5000 Block of S. C Street for a vehicle code violation. Officers observed narcotics and drug paraphernalia in plain view and contacted the driver, 27-year-old Oxnard resident Isaac Guzman. Guzman was found to be in possession of suspected heroin and methamphetamine. A further search of the vehicle located a loaded .45 caliber firearm under Guzman’s seat. Guzman was ultimately arrested for various narcotic-related offenses and firearm offenses that included being a prohibited person in possession of a loaded firearm.

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.

NEWS RELEASE

DATE: August 5, 2024

SUBJECT: Shooting Victims

LOCATION: 300 Block N G Street, Oxnard

VICTIMS: 41-Year-Old Male, Oxnard Resident

43-Year-Old Male, Oxnard Resident

CONTACT: Detective Hugo Garcia

(805) 247-8972 | [email protected]

On August 5, 2024, at approximately 12:20 AM, Oxnard Police Officers responded to the area of the 300 block North G Street reference several calls from residents reporting two shooting victims. Oxnard Police Officers responded to the area and located a 41 year old male suffering from multiple gunshot wounds, and a 43 year old male suffering from a single gunshot wound. Both victims were transported to an area hospital. The 41 year old male is listed in critical condition. The 43 year old male was listed in stable condition.

Investigators from the Oxnard Police Department Violent Crimes Unit assumed responsibility for the investigation. The investigation is ongoing and no further information is available at this time. If you have any information regarding this case, please contact Detective Hugo Garcia at 805-247-8972 or by email at [email protected].

Information can be reported online via the Oxnard Police Department’s website: www.oxnardpd.org, and click on “Report Suspicious Activity.” You can remain anonymous and still provide valuable information by calling Ventura Crime Stoppers at (800) 222-8477. You can also visit this site: www.venturacountycrimestoppers.org to submit a tip via text or email.

NEWS RELEASE

DATE: August 2, 2024

SUBJECT: Serious Injury Traffic Collision

VEHICLES: 2014 Hyundai Accent

2018 Dodge Ram 3500

DRIVER: Giovanni Leonardo Medina, 28-yr-old Oxnard resident

PASSENGER: 24-yr-old Oxnard resident

CONTACT: Officer Jay Benson

(805) 385-7750 (Tue-Fri 7AM-5PM) I [email protected]

On August 2, 2024, at approximately 2:18 a.m., officers from the Oxnard Police Department and EMS personnel responded to an injury traffic collision involving a Hyundai Accent and a Dodge Ram in the area of N. C Street and Eastwood Drive.

Upon arrival, emergency responders located the driver, Giovanni Leonardo, and an adult passenger trapped inside of the Hyundai. Fire personnel extracted both occupants and transported them to the Ventura County Medical Center for treatment. The other vehicle collided with was determined to be an unoccupied parked vehicle. The passenger of the Hyundai was later rushed into emergency surgery as his condition quickly deteriorated. He is currently listed in critical but stable condition.

An initial investigation determined the Hyundai to be traveling northbound on C Street when it collided into the parked vehicle. Investigators believe alcohol is a contributing factor to this collision and are still conducting a thorough investigation.

Anyone who has information regarding this collision is urged to contact Officer Jay Benson at (805) 385-7750 or via email at [email protected]. Also, anyone with information regarding this case can contact the Oxnard Police Department at (805) 385-7600.

If the inquiry is outside of the Investigator’s standard business hours, we encourage the use of the Investigator’s email. We have found that an email message with a callback request is a more effective way to reach the Investigator. Our watch commanders will continue to speak to those incidents that center around field operations, and still can be reached at (805) 385-7746 or (805) 385-7778.

NEWS RELEASE

DATE: July 30, 2024

SUBJECT: Motorcycle Safety Enforcement Operation

CONTACT: Mike Gens, Sergeant

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

The Oxnard Police Department will have extra officers on patrol Thursday, August 1, 2024 from 2:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. looking specifically for traffic violations made by drivers and motorcycle riders.

The top primary crash factors for motorcycles are unsafe speed, improper turning, right-of-way violations, driving under the influence, and unsafe lane changes. Speeding is the most common, accounting for nearly a third of all crashes in the state.

To help protect you and your family, keep the following tips in mind while driving or riding:

Drivers

● Always check twice for motorcycles in your mirrors and blind spots.

● Use your signal when changing lanes.

● Never follow a motorcycle too closely. Always keep a safe distance.

● When at an intersection, allow enough space before turning.

Motorcyclists

● Always wear a DOT compliant helmet and protective gear.

● Consider adding reflective tape to make it easier for other drivers to see you.

● Always keep your lights on, even during the day.

● Don’t assume drivers see you: signal well in advance before changing lanes and watch for turning vehicles.

● Although lane splitting is legal, the practice is not encouraged at high speeds in free-flowing traffic.

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: July 26^th, 2024 (7:10 p.m.)

SUBJECT: Handgun Recovered from Parolee During Traffic Stop

SUSPECTS: Sergio Contreras, 42-year-old Oxnard resident

LOCATION: Saviers Rd. at Pleasant Valley Rd., Oxnard

CONTACT: Jason Radcliffe, Sergeant

(805) 385-7600 | [email protected]

On July 26th, 2024, at approximately 7:10 p.m., officers from the Oxnard Police Department’s Special Enforcement Unit (Gang Unit) conducted a traffic stop for traffic violations in the area of Saviers Rd. and Pleasant Valley Rd.

The driver was identified as Sergio Contreras, who is on parole and a documented Colonia Chiques gang member. During a parole search, a loaded firearm was located in the vehicle. A subsequent search of Contreras’s residence revealed narcotics and narcotic paraphernalia, indicating he was involved in the sale of narcotics. Contreras was arrested and booked into Ventura County Jail.

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 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.

NEWS RELEASE

DATE: July 26, 2024

SUBJECT: California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control “Shoulder Tap” Operation

LOCATION: Oxnard, California

CONTACT: Corporal Steven Ramirez II, F.A.C.T. Compliance Officer

(805) 385-7600 | [email protected]

Oxnard Police Department and ABC arrest four in Underage Drinking Enforcement Operation

The Oxnard Police Department and agents from the California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) arrested four individuals during a joint Oxnard Police and ABC “Shoulder Tap” operation on July 26, 2024. This enforcement operation is designed to create awareness about the dangers of underage drinking throughout California and keep communities safe.

A Shoulder Tap operation focuses on adults who purchase alcohol for persons under the age of 21. A minor under the direct supervision of law enforcement stands outside of a liquor or convenience store and asks customers to buy them alcohol. The minor also indicates they are underage and cannot purchase the alcohol. If an adult agrees to purchase alcohol for the underage person, they can be arrested and cited for furnishing alcohol to a minor. The penalty for furnishing alcohol to a minor is a minimum $1,000 fine and 24 hours of community service.

Statistics have shown that young people under the age of 21 have a much higher risk of being involved in a crash than older drivers. About 25 percent of fatal crashes involve underage drinking according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

This operation was funded by ABC’s Alcohol Policing Partnership program and the California Office of Traffic Safety through NHTSA.

NEWS RELEASE

DATE: July 24, 2024

SUBJECT: Man Arrest for Murder in Connection with Overdose Death

SUSPECTS: Rodney Rey Yanez, 55 year-old Oxnard Resident

LOCATION: 1500 block of W. Gonzales Rd., Oxnard

CONTACT: Jose Velazquez, Sergeant

(805) 385-7623 (Tue-Fri 10AM-8PM) [email protected]

On September 20, 2023, Oxnard Police officers and EMS personnel responded to a report of an overdose victim in the restroom of a gas station located in the 1500 block of W. Gonzales Rd., in Oxnard. Responding officers and emergency personnel performed CPR on the victim, Dylan Rusch, but were unable to revive him. Mr. Rusch was pronounced deceased at the scene. Toxicology results from the Ventura County Medical Examiner’s Office show a lethal level of fentanyl was the cause of death.

The Oxnard Police Department’s Drug Enforcement Unit (DEU) conducted an extensive investigation into this incident. Detectives processed evidence, interviewed multiple witnesses, executed several search warrants, and ultimately identified Rodney Rey Yanez as the person who sold fentanyl to Mr. Rusch. Detectives also identified Yanez as a suspect in a series of narcotics-related offenses stemming back to January of 2023.

With the assistance of the Ventura County District Attorney’s Office, detectives obtained an arrest warrant for Yanez for Second Degree Murder and several narcotics sales-related offenses.

On July 24, 2024, the Oxnard Police Department’s DEU, with the assistance of the K9 Unit and the Neighborhood Policing Team, located Yanez in the 5500 block of Everglade St. in the City of Ventura. He was arrested for the outstanding warrant and booked at the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office Pre-Trial Detention facility.

This investigation marks the first time murder charges were filed against a person who knowingly sold the deadly synthetic drug fentanyl to a victim who overdosed and died.

The Oxnard Police Department is committed to reducing drug overdoses 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.

NEWS RELEASE

DATE: July 20, 2024

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

CONTACT: Michael Gens, Sergeant

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

Six impaired drivers arrested during DUI checkpoint and saturation.

On July 19, 2024, between the hours of 7:00 p.m. and 2:00 a.m., the Oxnard Police Department held a DUI/Driver’s License checkpoint at Oxnard Boulevard and Deodar Avenue, as well as a simultaneous city-wide DUI saturation. The operation resulted in six arrests for impaired driving, and twenty-six citations for driving while unlicensed.

Checkpoint locations 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: July 17, 2024

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

CONTACT: Mike Gens, Sergeant

(805) 385-7847 | [email protected]

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 working patrol on Friday, July 19, 2024, 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 7:00 p.m. to 2:00 a.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 2021, 1,370 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.

NEWS RELEASE

DATE: July 17, 2024

SUBJECT: Man Arrested for Firearms Possession

SUSPECTS: Jovany Macias 19-year-old Oxnard Resident

LOCATION: 1600 block Impatiens Drive, Oxnard

CONTACT: Randall Gonzales, Detective

(805) 288-3289 | [email protected]

During the month of July, the Oxnard Police Department Violent Crimes Unit conducted an investigation into Jovany Macias regarding illegal firearms possession. During the investigation, detectives obtained a search warrant for his residence in the 1600 block of Impatiens Drive in Oxnard.

On July 17, 2024, members of the Oxnard Police Department Special Enforcement Unit attempted to contact Macias in the 2100 block of Wankel Way. Macias fled on foot and was captured a short distance away. Macias was found to be in possession of a loaded semiautomatic firearm.

During a subsequent search at Macias’s residence, Violent Crimes Unit Investigators located an additional loaded semiautomatic firearm, an assault rifle, several hundred rounds of ammunition, high-capacity magazines, gun parts, and narcotics.

Macias was arrested for various firearms and narcotic possession offenses.

The Oxnard Police Department is committed to reducing drug overdoses, gang crimes, and gun violence 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. 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.