John Crombach Chief of Police

Oxnard Police Department R. Jason Benites Assistant Chief Scott Whitney Assistant Chief

OXNARD POLICE DEPARTMENT

PRESS RELEASE

DETAILS:

On 4-27-10 at around 7:22 PM officers were dispatched to a call of two shooting victims in the 100 block of West Hill Street. Upon officers arrival they located one victim suffering from a minor injury to her head. The second victim was located during a search of the neighborhood but had sustained no injuries. The injured victim was transported to St John’s Regional Medical Center where she is listed in stable condition.

The victim was hanging out in the area when a vehicle drove up and the passenger exited the SUV. The suspect yelled something and fired several shots into the group of people. The victim was struck with two pellets. Due to the victim’s age her name is being withheld.

Investigators suspect the shooting was possibly tagger related. If anyone has information on this shooting they are requested to call Ventura County Crime Stoppers at 1 (800) 222-TIPS or Det. Mike Thomas at (805) 385-7660.

John Crombach Chief of Police

Oxnard Police Department R. Jason Benites Assistant Chief Scott Whitney Assistant Chief

OXNARD POLICE DEPARTMENT

PRESS RELEASE

DETAILS: 

On Friday, May 14, 2010 at about 3:45 P.M., officers from the Oxnard Police Department responded to an injury collision in the 1500 block of West Channel Islands Blvd. When officers arrived, they found a motorcycle had collided into a tree on the north side of Channel Islands Blvd. Officers also found a male lying on the ground 59 feet west of the tree. The male sustained serious injuries as a result of the collision and was transported to St John’s Regional Medical Center by Gold Coast Ambulance.

The preliminary investigation indicates that the motorcycle was traveling westbound on Channel Islands Blvd. towards Ventura road at a high rate of speed. For unknown reasons, the driver lost control of the motorcycle and was ejected. The motorcycle struck the tree with such force that it caused the motorcycle to land about 63 feet north of the street in an empty parking lot. At this time it is undetermined if alcohol was a factor in the collision.

The Oxnard Police Department is requesting the assistance of the public. If you witnessed the collision or have any information regarding the collision please contact the assigned traffic investigator, Officer Scott Aaron at (805) 385-7749.

An investigation is continuing.

John Crombach Chief of Police

Oxnard Police Department R. Jason Benites Assistant Chief Scott Whitney Assistant Chief

OXNARD POLICE DEPARTMENT

PRESS RELEASE

DETAILS:

The Oxnard Police Department Traffic Unit will be conducting a multi-location sobriety and driver’s license checkpoint on Friday, July 30th, 2010, from 6:00 P.M. to midnight. The checkpoint will be held throughout the City of Oxnard and is funded by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

From the beginning of 2010, the Oxnard Police Department has arrested over 545 drivers for DUI. We have also investigated over 125 collisions that involved a DUI driver with 45 of them involving injuries. As a reminder, the total cost for a first time DUI conviction in Ventura County is over $10,000.

Officers from the Oxnard Police Department will be conducting more DUI enforcement operations over the summer months including checkpoints and several saturation patrols. The Oxnard Police Department remains committed to its no-tolerance approach to DUI drivers. These DUI operations are part of our effort to reduce the number of alcohol related crashes and to make our roadways and community safer. We also remind people that if they see an impaired driver to dial 911.

For any questions related to DUI and traffic enforcement, please contact Senior Officer Brian Woolley at (805) 385-7749 or via e-mail at brianwoolley@oxnardpd.org.

John Crombach Chief of Police

Oxnard Police Department R. Jason Benites Assistant Chief Scott Whitney Assistant Chief

OXNARD POLICE DEPARTMENT

PRESS RELEASE

DETAILS:

The Oxnard Police Department will continue its summer crackdown on impaired driving as the Traffic Unit conducts a multi-location sobriety and driver’s license checkpoint on Friday, August 20th, 2010, from 6:00 P.M. to 2:00 A.M.

So far this year, the Oxnard Police Department has arrested over 618 drivers for DUI. During the last weekend in July, we arrested 25 DUI drivers over three days.

The following night, August 21st, an additional sobriety and driver’s license checkpoint will be conducted in the City of Oxnard. During this checkpoint, Oxnard Police officers will be joined by officers from the Santa Paula Police Department, Port Hueneme Police Department, Ventura Police Department, and the Ventura County Sheriff’s Department. This checkpoint is part of the Avoid the 14 Ventura County DUI enforcement campaign. Officers from all of the law enforcement agencies in Ventura County participate in the Avoid the 14 campaign to conduct strict enforcement of DUI driving. The next Avoid the 14 DUI checkpoint is scheduled for September 3rd in the City of Camarillo.

According to the latest national data, 32 percent of fatalities in motor vehicle traffic crashes involve a driver or motorcycle rider with a blood alcohol content (BAC) of .08 percent or above, averaging one fatality every 45 minutes.

The national Drunk Driving, Over the Limit, Under Arrest crackdown is led by the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the California Avoid DUI Task Force Campaign combining high-visibility enforcement with heightened public awareness through publicity.

The Oxnard Police Department will be conducting more DUI enforcement operations over the next several weeks as part of a summer mobilization that starts August 20th and ends September 6th. An additional DUI checkpoint is scheduled for August 28th in the City of Oxnard. The Oxnard Police Department remains committed to its no-tolerance approach to DUI drivers. All of these DUI operations are funded by grants from the California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

For any questions related to DUI and traffic enforcement, please contact Senior Officer Brian Woolley at (805) 385-7749 or via e-mail at brianwoolley@oxnardpd.org.

John Crombach Chief of Police

Oxnard Police Department R. Jason Benites Assistant Chief Scott Whitney Assistant Chief

OXNARD POLICE DEPARTMENT

PRESS RELEASE

DETAILS:

On 08/23/2010 at approximately 1523 hours officers were dispatched to the 400 block of North “G” Street regarding a stabbing that had just occurred. When officers arrived, they located the victim who had suffered two stab wounds to his upper body. The victim was transported to Ventura County Medical Center where he is listed in serious condition.

During the course of the investigation, the suspect was located hiding in a nearby apartment. Officers contacted the suspect, who was identified as Eduardo Lopez (1/30/74), and arrested him without incident. The investigation revealed that both the victim and the suspect are members of rival gangs and this rivalry was the primary motive for the assault. Lopez was booked into the Ventura County jail for attempted murder and a gang enhancement.

Investigators are requesting that anyone with information regarding this case to call Detective Alex Arnett at (805) 486-6297 or if you wish to remain anonymous you can call the Ventura County Crime Stoppers at (805) 385-8255.

John Crombach Chief of Police

Oxnard Police Department R. Jason Benites Assistant Chief Scott Whitney Assistant Chief

OXNARD POLICE DEPARTMENT

PRESS RELEASE

DETAILS:

On 09-22-2010 at about 0949 hours officers received a call of a family dispute at 3285 Sycamore Street. While enroute to the location the dispatcher advised that the suspect William Stover (6-14-1967) was in the process of forcing entry to the locked door of the reporting parties’ bedroom. While units were responding code 3 to the location, officers were advised that the suspect was dousing the living room area with gasoline and threatening to set the residence on fire.

Upon arrival to the location officers learned that the victim and all parties that were inside the residence at the time of the incident, had fled outside. However, the suspect was now barricaded inside the residence threatening that if the police made entry into the home he would set the home on fire. At this point officers on scene saw smoke coming from the attic vents of the residence and asked that fire personnel respond to the scene.

Several attempts to communicate with the suspect via the public address system from a marked black and white police unit were made with negative results. The Oxnard Police SWAT team was then dispatched to the scene. After several failed attempts to establish compliance from the suspect, via the phone and public address system, entry at the residence was made and suspect Stover was taken into custody. Stover sustained minor injuries during the arrest and was medically cleared at St. Johns Medical Center.

When fire personnel entered the residence they confirmed there was evidence of an arson commited inside the residence. Suspect William Stover was arrested for 422 PC terrorist threats, 451 (b) pc Arson to an inhabited structure and 242 PC Battery. Suspect Stover was transported to Ventura County Jail and booked as per the above charges.

Oxnard Police Department R. Jason Benites Assistant Chief Scott Whitney Assistant Chief

OXNARD POLICE DEPARTMENT

PRESS RELEASE

DETAILS:

On 1/3/2011 at 0140 hrs officers responded to the 300 block of Lafayette Drive for a family dispute. During the investigation Officers learned that the Suspect, Dominic Pinkard, assaulted a relative, Steven Proefroc. The victim’s father-in-law heard the incident and called 9-1-1.

When officers arrived they observed the victim inside the residence with significant head and facial injuries. Pinkard fled the scene prior to the officer’s arrival. Proefroc was immediately taken to the Ventura County Medical Center where he is currently undergoing emergency brain surgery.

Investigators are still investigating the case and unsure of the motive for the assault. Investigators are looking for Dominic Pinkard to interview him about this incident. If you have any information regarding this incident, you are encouraged to contact Detective Chip Buttell at 385-7665 or email him at charlesbuttell@oxnardpd.org. If you wish to remain anonymous you can call crime stoppers with any information at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).

Oxnard Police Department R. Jason Benites Assistant Chief Scott Whitney Assistant Chief

OXNARD POLICE DEPARTMENT

PRESS RELEASE

DETAILS:

The Oxnard Police Department will be conducting a multi-location sobriety and driver’s license checkpoint on Saturday, January 22nd, 2011, from 6:00 P.M. to 2:00 A.M. The checkpoint will be held throughout the City of Oxnard and is funded by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

The Oxnard Police Department arrested 956 drivers for DUI in 2010 and investigated over 215 alcohol related collisions. So far this year, officers have made 41 DUI arrests in the City of Oxnard. The Oxnard Police Department’s continued efforts in DUI enforcement have resulted in significant reductions in the number of alcohol related collisions and fatal collisions involving alcohol.

Please buckle up, drive sober, and drive safely in 2011.

For any questions related to DUI and traffic enforcement, please contact Senior Officer Brian Woolley at (805) 385-7749 or via e-mail at brianwoolley@oxnardpd.org.

Jeri Williams Chief of Police

Oxnard Police Department R. Jason Benites Assistant Chief Scott Whitney Assistant Chief

OXNARD POLICE DEPARTMENT

PRESS RELEASE

DETAILS:

In an effort to reduce state-wide collisions resulting from distracted driving habits, the California Office of Traffic Safety has identified the month of April as “Distracted Driving Month.” As part of California’s first Distracted Driving Awareness Month, law enforcement in Ventura County will be holding zero tolerance days for cell phone use and texting. A ticket for violating either the hands free or no texting law costs a minimum of $159, and subsequent tickets cost $279.

Distracted driving is a serious traffic safety concern that puts everyone on the road at risk, joining speeding and alcohol as leading factors in fatal and serious injury crashes. As a result, law enforcement across the state is increasingly cracking down on cell phone use and texting. Starting April 4th and throughout the month, local agencies including the Oxnard Police Department, Ventura Police Department, Ventura County Sheriff’s Department and Santa Paula Police Department will join police departments across the state plus 103 CHP Area Commands conducting zero tolerance enforcements.

Drivers who use hand-held devices are four times as likely to get into crashes serious enough to injure themselves. Younger, inexperienced drivers under 20 years old have the highest proportion of distraction-related fatal crashes. In addition, studies show that texting while driving can delay a driver’s reaction time just as severely as having a blood alcohol content of a legally drunk driver.

“We recognize that convincing drivers to refrain from using cell phones or texting while driving isn’t easy,” said Office of Traffic Safety Director Christopher J. Murphy. “It’s very difficult to resist the urge to check an incoming text or answer a cell phone call. That’s why we are stepping up enforcement and public awareness efforts. Convincing California drivers to wear seat belts 20 years ago wasn’t easy either, but in 2010 more than 96 percent buckled up and thousands of lives were saved.”

Studies show that there is no difference in the risks between hands-free and hand-held cell phone conversations, both of which can result in “inattention blindness” which occurs when the brain isn’t seeing what is clearly visible because the drivers’ focus is on the phone conversation and not on the road.

There are simple measures drivers can take to minimize distractions in the vehicle:

• Turn your phone off or put it out of reach before starting the car.
• Alert callers that you are unable to take calls when driving by changing your voicemail message.
• Make it a point not to call or text anyone who may be driving, such as during the commute to and from work or school, especially parents calling teen drivers.
• If you do need to make an important call or respond to a text message, pull over to a safe place to do so.
• If going cold turkey is too much of a stretch and you just can’t turn your phone off, consider using one of the available mobile phone apps that holds calls and incoming texts.

“We just want drivers to use some common sense when they’re behind the wheel and focus on driving,” said Murphy. “Think about the vast majority of calls and texts you send or receive every day. Were any really worth a $159 ticket – or worse, a crash, injury or death? It’s just not worth it.”

For any questions related to traffic enforcement or these types of operations, please contact Senior Officer Brian Woolley at (805) 385-7749 or via e-mail at brianwoolley@oxnardpd.org.