Jeri Williams
Chief of Police

Oxnard Police Department

R. Jason Benites
Assistant Chief

Scott Whitney
Assistant Chief

OXNARD POLICE DEPARTMENT

PRESS RELEASE

INCIDENT:	Serious Injury Traffic Collision
DATE/TIME:	June 3, 2011 / 2028 hours
LOCATION:	100 Block North “C” Street
DRIVER-1:	Richard Ray, 69 years old of Oxnard
PEDESTRIAN-1:	Male, 53 years old of Oxnard (name withheld pending notification of family)
VEHICLE-1:	Dodge, Caravan
PREPARED BY:	Randy Latimer, Traffic Sergeant [email protected]
CONTACT PERSON & CONTACT INFO:	Jason Coleman ([email protected]) 385-7600

DETAILS:

On June 3, 2011, at approximately 2028 hours, officers and EMS personnel responded to the 100 block of North “C” Street after receiving a call of a vehicle collision involving a mini-van and a pedestrian. Upon arrival, officers found that a 53 year old male of Oxnard had been struck by a mini-van driven by Richard Ray, 69 years old of Oxnard. The pedestrian sustained serious head injuries and was transported to the Ventura County Medical Center where he is listed in critical condition.

Preliminary investigation indicates that the pedestrian was crossing the street mid-block, outside of a marked crosswalk, and stepped into the path of the mini-van which was traveling northbound “C” Street at a normal speed.

Alcohol was not a factor on the part of the mini-van driver. It is unknown, at this time, if the pedestrian had alcohol on-board and whether or not it was factor in this collision.

If anyone has information about this collision please contact Officer Jason Coleman at 805-385-7600.

An investigation is continuing.

Jeri Williams
Chief of Police

Oxnard Police Department

R. Jason Benites
Assistant Chief

Scott Whitney
Assistant Chief

OXNARD POLICE DEPARTMENT

PRESS RELEASE

INCIDENT:	Sobriety and Driver’s License Checkpoint Results
DATE/TIME:	June 11, 2011
LOCATION:	City of Oxnard
CONTACT PERSON & CONTACT INFO:	Randy Latimer, Traffic Sergeant (805) 385-7847

DETAILS:

The Oxnard Police Department Traffic Unit conducted a sobriety and driver’s license checkpoint on Saturday, June 11, 2011, from 6:00 P.M. to 10:00 P.M.

The checkpoint was conducted in the southbound lanes of Rose Avenue @ Lindsay Drive.

Officers screened 523 motorists who passed through the checkpoint and conducted one DUI investigation with a driver who had been drinking alcohol. No DUI arrests were made as the driver was found to have an alcohol level below the legal limit of .08.

Citations were issued to 44 drivers for various drivers’ license violations at the checkpoint. Thirty drivers were issued citations for driving without a valid driver’s license and six drivers were cited for driving with a suspended driver’s license. Fifteen vehicles were towed from the checkpoint.

Following the checkpoint, officers conducted a DUI saturation patrol from 10:00 P.M. to 2:00 A.M. and arrested four (4) drivers for DUI.

The Oxnard Police Department will conduct several more DUI enforcement operations this year. These DUI operations are an 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. These DUI enforcement operations are funded by grants from the California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) through the National Highway Transportation Administration.

For any questions related to DUI and traffic enforcement, please contact Senior Officer Brian Woolley at (805) 385-7749 or via e-mail at [email protected].

Jeri Williams
Chief of Police

Oxnard Police Department

R. Jason Benites
Assistant Chief

Scott Whitney
Assistant Chief

OXNARD POLICE DEPARTMENT

PRESS RELEASE

INCIDENT:

Officer Involved Shooting (update)

DATE/TIME:

08/22/2011 3 a.m.

LOCATION:

1900 block of N. “H” Street

VICTIM(S):

State of California

SUSPECT(S):

Bobby Oscar Basquez
25-year-old Oxnard resident

WITNESS(ES):

SUSPECT VEHICLE(S):

LOSS:

PREPARED BY:

Mónica Muñoz

CONTACT PERSON &
CONTACT INFO:

Mónica Muñoz, Community Affairs Manager/PIO
(805) 385-7631

DETAILS:
On 08/22/2011 at 3 a.m. Oxnard PD officers responded to a call of a domestic disturbance in the 1900 block of N. “H” Street in Oxnard. When the officers arrived they located a male in the courtyard of the apartment complex. The man ignored the officers’ commands to show his hands and as a result, several shots were fired and he was hit. The suspect sustained a minor gunshot wound. A gun was located at the scene.

The suspect is Bobby Oscar Basquez, a 25-year-old male from Oxnard. He was transported to the Ventura County Medical Center where he received treatment. He was later cleared medically and booked into Ventura County Jail. Basquez is on parole and was released from prison in May of this year.

If anyone has any information about the incident, they are encouraged to call Oxnard PD at (805) 385-7600 or Detective Erik Mora at (805) 385-7680.

DATE / TIME PREPARED: 08/22/2011 2 p.m.

Jeri Williams
Chief of Police

Oxnard Police Department

R. Jason Benites
Assistant Chief

Scott Whitney
Assistant Chief

OXNARD POLICE DEPARTMENT

NEWS RELEASE

INCIDENT:	Play It Safe This Cinco de Mayo! Don’t Drink and Drive
DATE/TIME:	Cinco De Mayo Weekend 2013
LOCATION:	Ventura County
PREPARED BY:	Maria Pena, Traffic Investigator
CONTACT PERSON & CONTACT INFO:	Maria Peña, Oxnard Police, 805-385-7750, [email protected]

DETAILS:



FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:                                                    May 3, 2013

CONTACT: Maria Peña, Oxnard Police, 805-385-7750, [email protected]

Play It Safe This Cinco de Mayo!
Avoid the 14 – Ventura County DUI Task Force Working to Reduce
Impaired Driving Crashes, Fatalities

[Ventura County, CA]— As many look to celebrate Cinco de Mayo many will also indulge with their favorite beverages of choice. Unfortunately, some will then choose to get behind the wheel and drive. That’s why this year the Avoid the 14 DUI Task Force – Ventura County is joining with others across the state and nation to encourage everyone to plan ahead this Cinco de Mayo—and to never drink and drive.

“With Cinco de Mayo celebrations on the rise across the country, alcohol-impaired crashes, injuries and fatalities will also rise,” said Chief Jeri Williams, Oxnard Police Department. “But buzzed driving is drunk driving, and is never safe or acceptable. So people should plan ahead now to avoid the temptation on the big day.”

Special DUI Saturations Patrols will be deployed this weekend in several cities within the county looking to identify and stop suspected impaired drivers. Additionally, every routine traffic and patrol officer assigned to duty will be on heightened alerted to prevent senseless tragedies.

From 2007 to 2011, 38 percent of all motor vehicle fatalities that occurred each year around May 5^th involved impaired drivers or motorcycle operators with blood alcohol concentrations (BACs) of .08 and above, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

During the 2011 Cinco de Mayo holiday alone, 35 percent of motor vehicle fatalities involved an alcohol-impaired driver or motorcycle operator with a BAC of .08 and above. A disturbing 80 percent of the alcohol impaired fatalities involved a driver or motorcycle operator with nearly twice the legal limit, showing a BAC of .15.

Chief Williams said that people can still enjoy the holiday and celebrations without putting their lives or the lives of other innocent victims on the line.

“When people start celebrating, they often aren’t thinking of how they will get home from the restaurant or a friend’s house, and they don’t realize how much they’ve had to drink and make a bad choice that ends in tragic consequences,” said Chief Williams.   “That’s why we are reminding people to play it safe and plan ahead, designate a sober driver.”

Death or injuries are not the onlyconsequences from impaired driving. When caught and arrested, violators often face jail time, loss of their driver’s license and it could cost up to $10,000 in fees, fines, and higher insurance rates.

“You should always designate a sober driver before the party begins,” said Sergeant Randy Latimer (Oxnard Police Department). “But, if you don’t plan ahead, and you’ve been drinking, do not get behind the wheel.   There are plenty of other alternatives that will keep you and others safe and out of trouble.”

Party-goers can call a friend, cab, or use public transportation.

Avoid the 14 DUI Task Force funding is provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration who reminds you – ‘Report Drunk Drivers, Call 911!’

# # #

Jeri Williams
Chief of Police

Oxnard Police Department

R. Jason Benites
Assistant Chief

Scott Whitney
Assistant Chief

OXNARD POLICE DEPARTMENT

NEWS RELEASE

EVENT:	Oxnard Fire Department and Police Department will receive a State Farm Insurance Good Neighbor Citizenship Grant at Oxnard City Council, tomorrow
DATE/TIME:	Tuesday, May 14, 2013 / 7:00pm
LOCATION:	City Council Chambers, 305 West Third Street, Oxnard
PREPARED BY:	Miguel Lopez, Community Affairs Manager, (805)385-7631 or [email protected]
CONTACT PERSON & CONTACT INFO:	Miguel Lopez, Same as above.

DETAILS:

Oxnard Fire Department and Police Department will receive a State Farm Insurance Good Neighbor Citizenship Grant.

On Tuesday May 14, 2013, State Farm Insurance will present Oxnard Fire and Police Departments with “Good Neighbor Citizenship Grants” totaling over $10,000 during the Oxnard City Council Meeting at 7:00 PM. The Oxnard Police Department will receive $5,150 to purchase a Crash Data Retrieval System and training. The Oxnard Fire Department will receive $5,000 to refurbish water vacuums used by the department.

State Farm’s Grant to the Oxnard Police Department will allow the Department to purchase a Crash Data Retrieval System that will help our Traffic Unit and Department serve our community better. The grant will cover the equipment and training that will allow officers to download and read critical information from vehicle black boxes. “We’ve never had the capability to do this ourselves in the past,” said Oxnard Police Senior Officer and Collision Investigator Maria Pe?a. “The gift to purchase this equipment and receive the required training will give our department the capabilities to download and read any information from U.S. made cars,” she said.

The Oxnard Fire Department will receive $5,000 to repair and refurbish the departments 8 aging water vacuums. The Oxnard Fire Department responds to homes and businesses in the community that have experienced flooding. Flooding occurs when plumbing is damaged or when due to weather related conditions water enters homes or businesses. The water vacuums are used by firefighters to remove water during these types of emergencies and greatly reduces property damage.

State Farm has previously presented grant funding to the Oxnard Fire Department to assist with promoting ocean safety awareness and to purchase the Rosetta Stone program designed to assist firefighters with learning to speak Spanish.

State Farm Insurance representative Eddie Martinez will make the presentations to Police Chief Jeri Williams and Fire Chief James A. Williams on Tuesday, May 14, 2013, 7:00 PM at the Oxnard City Council meeting.

For further information, please contact Miguel Lopez, Oxnard Police Department or Rod Thorp, Oxnard Fire Department.

Jeri Williams
Chief of Police

Oxnard Police Department

R. Jason Benites
Assistant Chief

Scott Whitney
Assistant Chief

OXNARD POLICE DEPARTMENT

NEWS RELEASE

INCIDENT:	Summer/Labor DAY AVOID DUI campaign – SATURDAY update 1
DATE:	August 17, 2013
LOCATION:	Ventura County
PREPARED BY:	Senior Officer Maria Peña, Oxnard Police, 805-385-7750, [email protected]
CONTACT PERSON & CONTACT INFO:	Sergeant Brian Woolley, Oxnard Police, 805-385-7847, [email protected] Senior Officer Maria Peña, Oxnard Police, 805-385-7750, [email protected]

DETAILS:

Summer/Labor DAY AVOID DUI campaign – SATURDAY update 1
DUI Arrests are unknown if they are Up or Down & DUI Fatalities Remain the same – No Fatalities

The Summer/Labor Day National Anti-DUI crackdown has resulted in a significant number of DUI arrests from local routine traffic enforcement and special Avoid the 14 DUI deployments overnight in Ventura County.

From 12:01 AM Friday August 16, 2013 through Midnight Friday August 16, 2013 officers representing 14 county law enforcement agencies have arrested eight individuals for driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs. In 2012 it is unknown how many DUI arrests occurred during the same 24 hour time period, the data will be provided on a future press release.

Last year there were no DUI deaths reported.
(**NOTE: These numbers are only provisional with some agencies yet to report**)

On August 16, 2013, between the hours of 9:00 P.M. and 3:00 A.M., officers from the Oxnard Police Department conducted a DUI/Driver’s license checkpoints. The checkpoint was conducted in the southbound lanes of Rose Avenue just south of Tiesa Lane. Officers screened 1,140 motorists who passed through the checkpoints and conducted four DUI investigations on drivers who had been drinking alcohol. Of those investigations, one driver was arrested for DUI alcohol. Citations were issued to 11 drivers for various Vehicle Code violations. seven drivers were issued citations for driving without a valid driver’s license, no drivers was cited for driving with a suspended driver’s license, and two vehicles were towed from the checkpoint.

Saturday, August 17^th a DUI Checkpoint will be conducted in the city of Simi Valley extra DUI Saturation Patrols will be deployed in the cities of Oxnard. All regularly scheduled traffic and patrol officers will focus efforts at stopping and arresting DUI drivers during their normal shifts.

Police, Sheriff and the CHP encourage all motorists to help make your community safer: Report Drunk Drivers – Call 911. Funding for this program is provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

DUI arrest data collection will continue through Labor Day midnight Monday, September 2, 2013. Avoid programs, named for the number of police agencies in each county, Multiple/DUI Driver’s License Checkpoints, Multi Agency DUI Task Force operations and local Roving DUI patrols are set region wide during 18 day Summer/Labor Day Campaign.

MEDIA NOTE: The checkpoint locations and saturation patrols will be made available for media opportunities or ride-a-longs each night.

Jeri Williams
Chief of Police

Oxnard Police Department

R. Jason Benites
Assistant Chief

Scott Whitney
Assistant Chief

OXNARD POLICE DEPARTMENT

NEWS RELEASE

INCIDENT:	DUI/Driver’s License Checkpoint
DATE/TIME:	January 24, 2014 / 2000-0300 Hours
PREPARED BY:	Senior Officer Jamie Brown, Traffic Coordinator
CONTACT PERSON & CONTACT INFO:	Senior Officer Jamie Brown (805) 385-7749 [email protected]

DETAILS: The Oxnard Police Department Traffic Unit will be conducting a DUI/Driver’s License Checkpoint on Friday, January 24, 2014 at an undisclosed location within the city limits between the hours of 8:00 p.m. to 3:00 a.m.

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.

Recent statistics reveal 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.

In 2013, there were 1,519 collisions in the City of Oxnard. Of those collisions, 745 involved an injury to one or more persons. Also in 2013, there were 149 collisions involving an impaired driver which resulted in 60 injured persons and 1 death.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), checkpoints have provided the most effective documented results of any of the DUI enforcement strategies, while also yielding considerable cost savings of $6 for every $1 spent. Nearly 90 percent of California drivers approve of DUI checkpoints.

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: January 22, 2014 / 1730 hours

Jeri Williams
Chief of Police

Oxnard Police Department

R. Jason Benites
Assistant Chief

Scott Whitney
Assistant Chief

OXNARD POLICE DEPARTMENT

NEWS RELEASE

INCIDENT:	DUI/Driver’s License Checkpoint Results
DATE/TIME:	Sunday, June 8, 2014 4:00 P.M. to 10:00 P.M.
LOCATION:	City of Oxnard
PREPARED BY:	Jamie Brown, Traffic Coordinator (805) 385-7749
CONTACT PERSON & CONTACT INFO:	Jamie Brown, Traffic Coordinator (805) 385-7749 [email protected]

DETAILS:
On Sunday, June 8, 2014, between the hours of 4:00 P.M. and 10:00 P.M., officers from the Oxnard Police Department conducted a multi-location DUI/Driver’s license checkpoint in the City of Oxnard. The first location was in the southbound lanes of Ventura Road south of Devonshire Drive. The second location was southbound Victoria Avenue south of Wooley Road. These locations were chosen to provide increased DUI deterrence and in response to recent alcohol related arrests and/or DUI collisions.

The results of tonight’s checkpoint are as follows:
·         1,476 vehicles through
·         1,051 drivers screened
·         Three DUI investigations
·         Two DUI alcohol arrests
·         Six citations issued to unlicensed drivers
·         One citation issued to a driver with a suspended/revoked license
·         19 total citations issued
·         Three vehicles towed

The Oxnard Police Department will continue to conduct DUI enforcement operations this year. These operations are an 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. These DUI enforcement operations are funded by grants from the California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) and through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

For any questions related to DUI and traffic enforcement, please contact Senior Officer Jamie Brown at (805) 385-7749 or via e-mail at [email protected].

DATE / TIME PREPARED: 6/8/14, 2215 hours

Jeri Williams
Chief of Police

Oxnard Police Department

R. Jason Benites
Assistant Chief

Scott Whitney
Assistant Chief

OXNARD POLICE DEPARTMENT

NEWS RELEASE

INCIDENT:	Arrest – Felon in Possession of a Firearm
DATE/TIME:	Monday, August 18, 2014 at 11:15 p.m.
LOCATION:	500 Block of Hill St
SUSPECT(S):	Valadez, Alexandro, Oxnard Resident
PREPARED BY:	Scott Hebert, Commander

DETAILS:

On Tuesday August 18, 2014, at approximately 11:30 p.m., Oxnard police officers responded to the 500 block of Hill St. regarding subjects drinking and disturbing. When officers arrived on scene, Alexandro Valadez was contacted and found to be in possession of a concealed handgun. Valadez is also a convicted felon, which is an additional violation.

In an effort to address the recent increase in firearms-related crimes, the Oxnard Police Department launched the Operation Safer and Stronger initiative, as well as the Firearms Strike Team (FAST) led by the Violent Crimes Unit, to proactively remove firearms from prohibited persons in the City. The objective of the initiative and FAST is to reduce gun violence in Oxnard through education, intervention, and enforcement.

Anyone with information about this incident is encouraged to call the Oxnard Police Department at (805) 385-7740.

DATE / TIME PREPARED: August 19, 2014 at 2:00 a.m.

Jeri Williams
Chief of Police

Oxnard Police Department

R. Jason Benites
Assistant Chief

Eric Sonstegard
Assistant Chief

OXNARD POLICE DEPARTMENT

NEWS RELEASE

INCIDENT:	Homicide
DATE/TIME:	July 16, 2015, 6:25 a.m.
LOCATION:	Lemonwood Park, Oxnard
VICTIM(S):	Unknown male subject, 20’s
SUSPECT(S):	Unknown
PREPARED BY:	Commander Andrew Salinas, (805) 385-7756 [email protected]
CONTACT PERSON & CONTACT INFO:	Detective Bob Eckman, (805) 385-7760 [email protected]

DETAILS: On July 16, 2015, at approximately 6:25 a.m., officers from the Oxnard Police Department were dispatched to a dead body call in Lemonwood Park. Upon arrival, officers were contacted by personnel from the Oxnard Fire Department who had pronounced the unknown male subject dead. It appears that the victim died from an apparent gunshot wound. The victim’s name is being withheld pending notification to a next of kin.

This is Oxnard’s seventh homicide of the year. Investigators are encouraging anyone with information about this incident to contact Detective Bob Eckman (805) 385-7760. If you wish to remain anonymous you can call the Violent Crimes Hotline at (805) 982-7070 or Ventura County Crime Stoppers at (800) 222-8477. You can also visit www.venturacountycrimestoppers.org to submit a tip via text or email.

DATE / TIME PREPARED:
July 16, 2015, 1000 hours