OXNARD POLICE DEPARTMENT

NEWS RELEASE

INCIDENT:	Gang members arrested for possession of a loaded firearm and felony pursuit
DATE/TIME:	9/12/17 / 11:50 p.m.
LOCATION:	Rose Ave at Gonzalez St
VICTIM(S):	State of California
SUSPECT(S):	Gilberto Aldana, 24 year old Oxnard resident Jesus Vazquez, 24 year old Oxnard resident
PREPARED BY:	Dan Whitmer, Sergeant [email protected] 805-385-7600
CONTACT PERSON AND CONTACT INFO:	Dan Whitmer, Sergeant [email protected] 805-385-7600

DETAILS:

On September 12, 2017, at approximately 11:50 p.m., officers from the Oxnard Police Department Gang Unit (Special Enforcement Unit) were conducting uniform gang enforcement in the area of Rose Ave and Gonzalez St. The officers attempted to stop a vehicle in this area for a traffic violation and a vehicle pursuit ensued.

The vehicle slowed down in an alley and two passengers fled on foot while the vehicle continued to drive away. Gilberto Aldana was apprehended during the foot pursuit and had a loaded firearm and drugs in his possession. The vehicle pursuit ended on the 101 off ramp at Rice Ave and the driver fled on foot towards the Hilton Hotel. Jesus Vazquez was apprehended shortly after.

Aldana was arrested for warrants, various firearm charges, drugs, and gang charges. Vazquez was arrested for felony evading. Aldana and Vazquez are documented gang members.

The Oxnard Police Department Gang Unit (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. Citizens are reminded to contact the Police Department when they observe suspicious activity or are witnesses to a crime.

Anyone with information regarding criminal activity is encouraged to contact the Oxnard Police Department at (805) 385-7600, or you can 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 at tip via text or email.

Gilberto Aldana

Jesus Vazquez

DATE / TIME PREPARED: 09/13/17 / 0245 hours

OXNARD POLICE DEPARTMENT

NEWS RELEASE

INCIDENT:	DUI/Driver’s License Checkpoint Results
DATE/TIME:	Saturday, September 9, 2017 7:00 p.m. to 2:30 a.m.
LOCATION:	City of Oxnard
PREPARED BY:	Jamie Brown, Senior Officer
CONTACT PERSON AND CONTACT INFO:	Jamie Brown, Traffic Coordinator (805) 385-7749 [email protected]

DUI Checkpoint Nets Four DUI Arrests

The Oxnard Police Department Traffic Unit, Port Hueneme Police Department, and the California Highway Patrol conducted two DUI/Driver’s License Checkpoints on September 9, 2017, between the hours of 7:00 p.m. and 2:30 a.m. The first checkpoint was located southbound Oxnard Boulevard south of Esplanade Drive. The second checkpoint was located southbound Victoria Avenue south of Hemlock Street. 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 the number of traffic collisions involving drug impairment. The Oxnard Police Department supports the new effort from the Office of Traffic Safety that aims to educate drivers that “DUI Doesn’t Just Mean Booze.” If you take prescription drugs, particularly those with a “driving or operating machinery” warning label, you might be impaired enough to get a DUI. Marijuana can also cause impairment, especially when combined with alcohol or other drugs which may also result in a DUI.

The following are the results of the DUI/Driver’s License Checkpoint:

1,914 vehicles through the checkpoint
1,657 vehicles screened
2 drivers arrested for felony warrants
1 DUI (drugs) arrest
6 DUI (alcohol) arrests
18 drivers cited/arrested for operating a vehicle while unlicensed and/or while suspended
35 citations issued
5 vehicles were towed

One driver was cited for reckless driving after he sped through the DUI checkpoint located at Oxnard Blvd. and Esplanade Drive. Officers evaluated the driver for DUI but determined he was below the legal limit.

Drivers are encouraged to download the Designated Driver VIP (DDVIP) free mobile app for Android or IPhone. The DDVIP app helps find nearby bars and restaurants that feature free incentives for the designated sober driver including free non-alcoholic drinks, free appetizers, and more. The feature-packed app even has social media tie-ins and a tab for the non-designated driver to call Uber, Lyft, or Curb.

Drivers caught driving impaired can expect the impact of a DUI arrest to include jail time, fines, fees, DUI classes, license suspension, and other expenses that can exceed $10,000 not to mention the embarrassment when friends and family find out.

The Oxnard Police Department will be conducting additional DUI/Driver’s License Checkpoints and DUI saturation patrols in our ongoing commitment to lowering deaths and injuries on our streets and highways.

The checkpoint was funded by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, reminding everyone to ‘Report Drunk Driver – Call 9-1-1’.

DATE / TIME PREPARED: 09/10/17 3:30 a.m.

OXNARD POLICE DEPARTMENT

NEWS RELEASE

INCIDENT:	Firearm Arrest
DATE/TIME:	September 10, 2017 12:29 A.M.
LOCATION:	200 block of Glenwood Drive
VICTIM:	State of California
SUSPECT(S):	Joey Dennis, 27 year old Oxnard Resident
PREPARED BY:	Christopher Williams, Commander [email protected] 805-385-8290
CONTACT PERSON AND CONTACT INFO:	Christopher Williams, Commander [email protected] 805-385-8290

On September 10, 2017, at about 12:29 A.M., officers were dispatched to a suspicious vehicle in the 200 block of Glenwood Drive. When the officers arrived they located the vehicle occupied by Joey Dennis, 27 year old Oxnard resident. Dennis was on probation and during the search of his vehicle, officers located a loaded firearm and illegal narcotics.

Dennis was arrested and later booked into the Ventura County Jail for various weapon and drug violations.

The Oxnard Police Department is committed to reducing violent crime in our city. Anyone with information regarding criminal activity is encouraged to contact the Oxnard Police Department at (805) 385-7600, or you can remain anonymous by calling the Ventura County Crime Stoppers at (805) 222-8477.

You can also visit this site http://www.venturacountycrimestoppers.org/contactus.apx to submit at tip via text or email.

DATE / TIME PREPARED: September 10, 2017 1:12 A.M.

INCIDENT:

Vehicle pursuit

DATE/TIME:

September 8, 2017/9:25 PM

LOCATION:

Ventura Road and Park Avenue/600 block of Yale Court

VICTIM(S):

N/A

SUSPECT(S):

Jessie Cortez, 29 year old Oxnard resident

WITNESS(ES):

N/A

SUSPECT

VEHICLE(S):

White SUV

LOSS:

None

PREPARED BY:

Bill Crisostomo, Sergeant

CONTACT PERSON AND CONTACT INFO:

Bill Crisostomo (805) 385-7644

[email protected]

DETAILS:

On September 8, 2017 at approximately 9:25PM officers from the Oxnard Police Department Special Enforcement Unit attempted to conduct a traffic stop on a vehicle for a traffic violation at the intersection of Ventura Road and Park Ave in the City of Port Hueneme. The vehicle failed to yield and a pursuit was initiated.

The pursuit lasted approximately 3 minutes and ended when the vehicle stopped in the 600 block of Yale Ct. in the city of Oxnard. The driver was identified as Jessie Cortez. Cortez is a documented gang member and is currently on active parole. There were two other adult occupants in the vehicle.

A loaded 38 caliber revolver which had been thrown from the suspect vehicle was recovered.

Cortez was arrested for violation of parole and an investigation is continuing.

The Oxnard Police Department 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. Citizens are reminded to contact the Police Department when they observe suspicious activity or are witnesses to a crime.

DATE / TIME PREPARED: September 8, 2017/11:35 PM

INCIDENT:

Robbery and Attempted Carjacking Arrest

DATE/TIME:

9/8/17 @ 12:48 pm

LOCATION:

600 Holly Avenue, Oxnard, CA

VICTIM:

67-year-old female Los Angeles County resident

SUSPECT:

Elisabeth Esquivel, 28-year-old Oxnard resident

PREPARED BY:

Sergeant Chris Inglehart

CONTACT PERSON AND CONTACT INFO:

Sergeant Brett Smith, 805-486-6211

[email protected]

DETAILS:

On 9/8/17 at 12:48 pm Oxnard Police Department officers responded to the 600 block of Holly Avenue in response to reports of an injury collision. Upon arrival they located two vehicles which had been involved in the collision, a moving truck and a passenger car. The passenger car had extensive damage. The driver of the passenger vehicle had minor injuries but was also suffering from the effects of exposure to pepper spray.

The driver informed officers that she offered to give Elizabeth Esquivel a ride from a Los Angeles County Jail to Oxnard since Esquivel did not have transportation. When they arrived in Oxnard, Esquivel directed the driver to Holly Avenue as a drop off point. As the driver drove down Holly Avenue, Esquivel sprayed pepper spray into the driver’s face and then attempted to steal the driver’s cell phone, wallet, and car. It was at that point that their vehicle rear-ended the moving truck. Witnesses attempted to assist the victim which caused Esquivel to flee. Officers located Esquivel a few blocks away.

Esquivel was arrested and booked for robbery and attempted carjacking.

DATE / TIME PREPARED: 9/8/17 at 5:34 pm

NEWS RELEASE

INCIDENT:	Theft Operation at Local Supermarkets
DATE/TIME:	9/7/17; 1400-2100 hours
LOCATION:	Vons Grocery 450 S. Ventura Road Vons Grocery 1291 S. Victoria Ave.
VICTIM(S):	Vons Grocery
SUSPECT(S):	Five Oxnard residents
PREPARED BY:	Jeff McGreevy, Sergeant Neighborhood Policing Team Supervisor [email protected] 805-385-7746
CONTACT PERSON AND CONTACT INFO:	Jeff McGreevy, Sergeant Neighborhood Policing Team Supervisor [email protected] 805-385-7746

DETAILS

The Oxnard Police Department Neighborhood Policing Team conducted a theft operation in partnership with Vons Grocery Stores at two locations in Oxnard. The operations were conducted simultaneously at the Vons near Ventura Road and 5^th Street and Vons in the Seabridge shopping center near Victoria and Wooley Road. These stores have historically been “hot spots” for theft and other nuisance type activity in recent years that requires a police response. The Oxnard Police Department has partnered with several retail stores like Vons and conducted extensive Crime Prevention inspections of several retailers to give merchants tips and tools to reduce crime in and around their stores.

On Thursday afternoon several officers from the Neighborhood Policing Team and a Detective from our Property Crimes Unit conducted a plain clothes theft operation with Vons loss prevention agents. The store loss prevention agents are in direct contact with police officers who are stationed inside and outside the store. When they observe a theft the police officers are signaled and detain suspects outside after they exit the store without paying for merchandise.

Today’s operation resulted in five arrests for theft. Many times the theft arrest uncovers additional crimes that the individual has committed. An example of this was during one of the theft investigations where an officer found that the suspect had a false driver license and a second driver license that he had stolen from someone. This resulted in an additional felony arrest charge. The other additional charges were a resisting arrest and outstanding arrest warrants.

During the undercover surveillance a man was observed concealing items in his backpack and as he walked towards the front door our officers got into position to arrest him. As he neared the door he stopped and took the items out of his backpack and put them back. We were curious why he changed his mind about stealing so our officers spoke with him and he told us that he changed his mind because of a large sign that is near the front door. Just as he was going to leave the saw a life size photo of an Oxnard Police officer holding a warning about shoplifters being prosecuted by this store. He saw the image of the police officer and decided it wasn’t worth it and put the stuff back. He made the right choice because three officers were waiting for him outside the door and he would have been arrested and booking into county jail for crimes had he not made the right decision to return the items. We were very happy to see that our efforts are having in impact and at least in this case, a lesson was learned. You never know when security or the police are monitoring the store and working together.

The Oxnard Police Department will continue to work with our retail partners towards reducing shoplifting crimes and helping them with crime prevention education resources. We ask our community members to think twice before you steal from a store in Oxnard, you never know when you will be greeted outside by an Oxnard Police Officer who is waiting for you.

DATE / TIME PREPARED: 09/7/2017; 2150 hours

OXNARD POLICE DEPARTMENT

NEWS RELEASE

INCIDENT: DUI/Driver’s License Checkpoints
DATE/TIME: September 9, 2017 / 7:00 p.m. – 3:00 a.m.
PREPARED BY: Jamie Brown, Traffic Coordinator
CONTACT PERSON AND CONTACT INFO: Jamie Brown, Traffic Coordinator (805) 385-7749
[email protected]

DETAILS:

DUI/Driver’s License Checkpoint Planned this Weekend

The Oxnard Police Department Traffic Unit, with the assistance of the Port Hueneme Police Department and the California Highway Patrol, will be conducting two DUI/Driver’s License Checkpoints on September 9, 2017, at undisclosed locations within the city limits between the hours of 7:00 p.m. to 3:00 a.m.

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.

The deterrent effect of High Visibility Enforcement using both DUI checkpoints and DUI saturation patrols has proven to lower the number of persons killed and injured in alcohol or drug-impaired crashes. Research shows that crashes involving an impaired driver can be reduced by up to 20 percent when well-publicized proactive DUI operations are conducted routinely.

DUI checkpoints like these are placed in locations based on collision statistics and frequency of DUI arrests, affording the greatest opportunity for achieving drunk and drugged driving deterrence. Locations are chosen with safety considerations for the officers and the public.

In California, alcohol involved collisions led to 1,155 deaths and nearly 24,000 serious injuries in 2014 because someone failed to designate a sober driver. Over the course of the past three years, Oxnard PD officers have investigated 739 DUI collisions which have claimed eight lives and resulted in another 485 injuries.

Officers will be looking for signs of alcohol and/or drug impairment, with officers checking drivers for proper licensing, delaying motorists only momentarily. When possible, specially trained officers will be available to evaluate those suspected of drug-impaired driving, which now accounts for a growing number of impaired driving crashes.

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. Everyone should be mindful that if you’re taking medication – whether prescription or over-the-counter – drinking even small amounts of alcohol can greatly intensify the impairment affects.

Drivers are encouraged to download the Designated Driver VIP, or “DDVIP,” free mobile app for Android or iPhone. The DDVIP app helps find nearby bars and restaurants that feature free incentives for the designated sober driver, from free non-alcoholic drinks to free appetizers and more. The feature-packed app even has social media tie-ins and even a tab for the non-DD to call Uber, Lyft or Curb.

Drivers caught driving impaired can expect the impact of a DUI arrest to include jail time, fines, fees, DUI classes, license suspensions and other expenses that can exceed $10,000 not to mention the embarrassment when friends and family find out.

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, reminding everyone to ‘Report Drunk Driver – Call 9-1-1’.

DATE / TIME PREPARED: September 8, 2017 / 11:00 a.m.

INCIDENT:

Arrest for Possession of a Firearm and Narcotics

DATE/TIME:

September 8, 2017 / 3:40 a.m.

LOCATION:

500 Block of West Vineyard Avenue, Oxnard

VICTIM(S):

State of California

City of Oxnard

SUSPECT:

Daniel Esquivel, 24 years, Oxnard resident

SUSPECT VEHICLE:

Gray Nissan Altima

PREPARED BY:

Brian Woolley, Sergeant

CONTACT PERSON AND CONTACT INFO:

Brian Woolley, Sergeant (805) 385-7600

[email protected]

DETAILS:

On 9/8/17, at approximately 3:40 a.m., an officer from the Oxnard Police Department arrived at the apartment complex in the 500 block of W. Vineyard Avenue for an unrelated call for service when he observed suspect Daniel Esquivel sleeping in the driver’s seat of a gray Nissan Altima. When the officer contacted Esquivel, Esquivel attempted to flee in the vehicle and rammed the front of the officer’s patrol vehicle. The collision caused the Nissan to become disabled. Responding officers arrived and Esquivel was taken into custody. Esquivel and the officer were not injured.

During a search of the Nissan, officers located a loaded handgun, several rounds of ammunition, narcotics and other items associated with drug sales. Esquivel was found to be a previously convicted felon and prohibited from possessing a firearm. Esquivel was arrested for several weapons and narcotics related offenses and booked into the Ventura County Jail.

DATE / TIME PREPARED: September 8, 2017 / 0630 hours

OXNARD POLICE DEPARTMENT

NEWS RELEASE

DETAILS:

Bicycle & Pedestrian Safety Operation Plan for Oxnard

The Oxnard Police Department will be conducting a Bicycle & Pedestrian Safety Enforcement Operation on September 8, 2017, with focused enforcement on collision causing factors involving motorists, pedestrians, and bicyclists.

The Oxnard Police Department has mapped out locations over the past three (3) years where pedestrian and bike collisions have occurred along with the violations that led to those crashes. Extra officers will be on-duty patrolling areas where bicycle, pedestrian, and traffic crashes occur in an effort to lower deaths and injuries.

Officers will be looking for violations made by drivers, bike riders, and pedestrians alike that can lead to life changing injuries. Special attention will be directed toward drivers speeding, making illegal turns, failing to stop for signs and signals, failing to yield to pedestrians in crosswalks or any other dangerous violation.

Additionally, enforcement will be taken for observed violations when pedestrians cross the street illegally or fail to yield to drivers who have the right of way. Bike riders will be stopped and citations issued when they fail to follow the same traffic laws that apply to motorists. All riders are reminded to always wear a helmet – those under 18 years of age must wear helmets by law. Pedestrians should cross the street only at marked crosswalks or at corners.

Bicycle and pedestrian fatalities are rising in California as more people use these non-motorized means of transportation. Locally, the Oxnard Police Department has investigated fifteen fatal and 506 injury collisions involving pedestrians and bicyclists during the past three (3) years. In 2013, California witnessed 701 pedestrians and 141 bicyclists killed, accounting for more than 28 percent of all traffic fatalities.

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

DATE / TIME PREPARED: September 8, 2017 / 4:30 p.m.

NEWS RELEASE

INCIDENT:	Possession of Stolen Property and Narcotics Arrest
DATE/TIME:	September 2, 2017 at 3:34 p.m.
LOCATION:	200 block W. Esplanade Dr.
VICTIM(S):	State of California
SUSPECT(S):	Christopher Jones, 32-year-old, Port Hueneme resident
PREPARED BY:	Bakari Myers, Sergeant [email protected] 805-385-7771
CONTACT PERSON AND CONTACT INFO:	Bakari Myers, Sergeant [email protected] 805-385-7771

DETAILS:

On 9/2/17, at approximately 3:34 p.m., Oxnard officers responded to the 200 block of W. Esplanade Dr. reference a theft of tires from a bicycle. The incident was reported to the police by an alert passerby who saw the suspect removing the tires from a bicycle that was locked to a bicycle rack. The suspect then rode away on a different bicycle. The passerby provided a detailed description to police dispatch and an officer located the suspect nearby. The suspect, identified as Christopher Jones, was found to be on supervised release for theft related charges. The officer searched Jones pursuant to his probation and located a meth pipe. A second officer located the victim who happened to be working in one of the stores.

Jones was found to be in possession of the victim’s tires and wheels. Jones was arrested for possession of narcotic paraphernalia and possession of stolen property. Jones was transported to the Oxnard Police Department and charged with an additional narcotics related charge for bringing methamphetamine into the holding facility.

Anyone with information regarding criminal activity is encouraged to contact the Oxnard Police Department at (805) 385-7600, or 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 at tip via text or email.

DATE / TIME PREPARED: September 2, 2017 / 1950 Hours