John Crombach Chief of Police

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

OXNARD POLICE DEPARTMENT

PRESS RELEASE

INCIDENT:	Murder suspect arrest
DATE/TIME:	September 26, 2010 6:15 P.M.
LOCATION:	Pleasant Valley and Saviers Rd
VICTIM(S):	Adrian Lerma, 21 year-old, Oxnard resident
SUSPECT(S):	Rene Ramos ( 7-12-85) 25 year-old, Oxnard resident
WITNESS(ES):	N/A
SUSPECT VEHICLE(S):	N/A
LOSS:	N/A
PREPARED BY:	Major Crimes / Homicide Sergeant Terry Burr
CONTACT PERSON & CONTACT INFO:	Det. Adam Wittkins (805) 385-7649 adamwittkins@oxnardpd.org

DETAILS: 

On 9-26-10 investigators from the Oxnard Police Departments Major Crimes unit where contacted by the suspect Rene Ramos. He told investigators that he had heard detectives where serving search warrants at his family’s residences looking for him. He went on to say that he wanted to turn himself in to avoid any further problems for his family. The suspect re-contacted investigators and said he was at the gas station at Pleasant Valley and Saviers Rd. Officers were dispatched to the area, Rene Ramos was taken into custody without incident.

On August 17, 2010 Mr. Ramos was involved in a fight that led to the shooting death of Adrian Lerma on San Jose Street in the City of Oxnard. Investigators have been actively searching for Ramos for over two months. Rene Ramos was arrested for murder and booked into Ventura County jail. A booking photo is attached below.

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:	July 8, 2011 6:00 P.M. to 12:00 A.M.
LOCATION:	City of Oxnard
CONTACT PERSON & CONTACT INFO:	Brian Woolley, Traffic Coordinator (805) 385-7749

DETAILS:

The Oxnard Police Department Traffic Unit conducted a multi-location sobriety and driver’s license checkpoint on Friday, July 8, 2011, from 6:00 P.M. to 12:00 A.M.

The first checkpoint was conducted in the eastbound lanes of Channel Islands Boulevard @ Dallas Drive. The second checkpoint was conducted in the northbound lanes of Ventura Road @ Devonshire Drive.

Officers screened 828 motorists who passed through the checkpoints and conducted three DUI investigations. There were no DUI arrests made as these drivers were found to have alcohol levels below the legal limit of .08. A 46 year-old male driver was arrested when he was found to be in possession of paraphernalia used for ingesting narcotics.

Citations were issued to 31 drivers for various drivers’ license violations at the checkpoint. Fourteen drivers were issued citations for driving without a valid driver’s license and one driver was cited for driving with a suspended driver’s license. Five vehicles were towed from the checkpoint.

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 brianwoolley@oxnardpd.org.

INCIDENT:	Oxnard Police Announce Roadway Vending Enforcement
DATE/TIME:	January 14, 2009
LOCATION:	Citywide
PREPARED BY:	Tom Chronister, Commander

DETAILS: 

A ban on vending from vehicles or structures and a ban on selling vehicles or structures on Oxnard’s roadways will be enforced beginning March 1, 2009 by the Oxnard Police Department.

On January 1, 2008, California Streets and Highways Code section 731 was amended by the State legislature to allow enforcement by local law enforcement agencies. Section 731 prohibits, among other things, the selling of vehicles on any highway. Violation of this section is a misdemeanor and vehicles can be removed as a nuisance.

A vehicle or structure may be removed from any highway as a public nuisance when:

1. It is parked for the purpose of selling the vehicle or structure, or
2. The vehicle or structure is used to sell any article, service or thing.

It is a misdemeanor for any person to park any vehicle or structure within a highway for:

1. The purpose of selling that vehicle or structure, or
2. The purpose of selling any article or thing.

It is a misdemeanor for any person to:

1. Sell, display for sale or offer for sale any article or thing either in or from a vehicle or structure parked or placed within a highway, or
2. Store, service, repair or otherwise work upon any vehicle parked or placed within a highway, other than upon a vehicle which is temporarily disabled.

After a 30-day grace period, Oxnard officers will begin enforcing the provisions of this Code within the city limits. Vehicles such as ice cream trucks typically conduct curbside sales, are mobile in nature and are therefore regulated separately by the Vehicle Code.

The intent of the section is to dissuade people from using highways for the sole purpose of selling vehicles or selling articles/things from vehicles or structures.

The full text of California Streets and Highways Code section 731 is available online at the State of California Legislative Counsel Web site, http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/.

For additional information, please contact Traffic Unit Sergeant Randey Cole at (805) 385-7847.

 

INCIDENT:	Assault with a deadly weapon (shooting)
DATE/TIME:	6-15-09 / 2310 hours
LOCATION:	1100 block West Hemlock Street
VICTIM/S:	19 year-old Oxnard resident
SUSPECT/S:	Unknown male in dark clothing
SUSPECT VEHICLE:	White older model 4-door vehicle
PREPARED BY:	Detective Charles Buttell

DETAILS: 

On 6-15-09 at approximately 2310 hours, officers from the Oxnard Police Department responded to a call of shots heard in the 1100 block of West Hemlock. When officers arrived they located a shooting victim. The victim was transported to St John’s Regional Medical Center where he is listed in stable condition.

The victim was approached by the suspect who was described as a male in dark clothing. The suspect was a passenger in an older model white 4-door compact. The suspect fired at the victim as the victim fled on foot. The suspect then fled in the suspect vehicle.

Anyone with information regarding this incident is encouraged to contact Detective Alex Arnett at (805) 486-6297 or the Violent Crimes Hotline at (805) 982-7070.

An investigation is continuing.

INCIDENT:	Fatal Single Vehicle Collision (3 Fatalities) (1 Critical)
DATE/TIME:	November 10, 2009 / 2043 hours
LOCATION:	Gonzales Road west of Patricia Street
DRIVER:	H/M, 20s of Oxnard (name withheld pending notification of next of kin)
PASSENGERS:	Three (3) Hispanic males of Oxnard, late teens to early 20s (names withheld pending notification of next of kin)
VEHICLE:	Gray, Mitsubishi, Evolution
PREPARED BY:	Randy Latimer, Traffic Sergeant

DETAILS: 

On November 10, 2009, at approximately 2043 hours, officers from the Oxnard Police Department responded to the intersection of Gonzales Road and Patricia Street after receiving a call of a single vehicle, roll-over collision. While officers and emergency medical personnel were responding, callers advised that there were several occupants in the overturned vehicle. Once on scene, officers and EMS personnel found that the vehicle, a gray, Mitsubishi had struck a tree in the center median and also found four occupants trapped inside of the severely damaged vehicle. Firefighters were able to reach the occupants and attempted to render aid. They soon determined that only one of the occupants, the driver, a Hispanic male in his early 20s, was alive. The three passengers, all Hispanic males in their late teens to early 20s were pronounced dead at the scene. The driver was transported to Saint John’s Regional Medical Center where he was immediately taken into surgery for major injuries. He is in critical condition.

Preliminary investigation indicates that the vehicle was traveling westbound on Gonzales Road at a high rate of speed. Upon reaching the intersection of Patricia Street, it veered out of control and struck the center median. It then struck a large palm tree that was in the median.

If anyone has information about this collision please contact Senior Officer Maria Pena at 805-385-7750

An investigation is continuing.

INCIDENT:	Downtown Oxnard Holiday Parade
DATE/TIME:	Saturday, December 5th, 2009 1000-1200
LOCATION:	Downtown Oxnard
PREPARED BY:	Traffic Officer Jason Coleman

DETAILS:

On Saturday, 12-5-09, the Downtown Oxnard Merchant’s Association will be hosting its annual Downtown Holiday Parade. The event will begin at 10:00 am and conclude at 12:00 pm. This will be followed by the 2009 Tamale Festival to be held in Plaza Park.

These events are expected to draw large crowds and traffic delays should be expected. The Oxnard Police Department will be handling traffic control to expedite the flow of traffic surrounding the event site. Starting at 9:00 am, all intersections on ‘C’ St from Second Street to Fifth Street, and ‘A’ St. from Fifth Street to Wooley Rd. will be closed to through traffic.

There will be “NO PARKING” signs posted on and around the parade route. The recommended parking area for persons attending the parade and other downtown events is the downtown parking structure located at Third Street @ ‘B’ Street.

These traffic flow modifications are taking place to assist in relieving the traffic congestion from this event in a timely and orderly fashion, with caution for pedestrians.

Please have a safe holiday season and enjoy watching the parade.

John Crombach 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
DATE/TIME:	February 26, 2010
LOCATION:	# 1 Saviers Road @ Laurel Street # 2 Oxnard Blvd. @ Citrus Grove Ln.
PREPARED BY:	Senior Police Officer Steven M. Ramirez II
CONTACT PERSON & CONTACT INFO:	Senior Police Officer Steven M. Ramirez II 385-7600

DETAILS:

The Oxnard Police Department Traffic Unit conducted two Sobriety and Driver’s License checkpoints on February 26, 2010 from 6:00 P.M. until 12:00 A.M.

The first checkpoint was conducted in the southbound lanes of Saviers Road at Laurel Street; the second in the southbound lanes of Oxnard Blvd. at Citrus Grove Ln.

Officers screened 1,059 motorists who passed through the checkpoints. Officers conducted six (6) DUI investigations that led to the arrest of one (1) driver for DUI. One additional individual was arrested for an outstanding misdemeanor warrant. Forty-four (44) drivers were issued citations for various driver’s license violations. Twenty-nine (29) drivers were issued citations for operating a motor vehicle without possessing a valid driver’s license. Thirty-three (33) vehicles were towed and the owners of the vehicles will face a minimum tow fee of $494.00.

The Oxnard Police Department will continue conducting DUI enforcement and Sobriety and Driver’s License checkpoints in 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 9-1-1. The checkpoints are funded by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) through the National Highway Transportation Administration.

John Crombach Chief of Police

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

OXNARD POLICE DEPARTMENT

PRESS RELEASE

INCIDENT:	Shooting
DATE/TIME:	March 28, 2010 9:57 PM
LOCATION:	1900 Block of Sanford St
VICTIM(S):	18 year-old, Oxnard resident
SUSPECT(S):	H/M
WITNESS(ES):	N/A
SUSPECT VEHICLE(S):	Dark compact
LOSS:	N/A
PREPARED BY:	Violent Crimes Unit Sergeant Terry Burr
CONTACT PERSON & CONTACT INFO:	Det. Mike Thomas (805) 385-7660

DETAILS:

On 3-28-10 at 9:57 hours, officers responded to a call of a shooting at the in the 1900 block of Sanford St. Upon their arrival they contacted several witnesses that said the victim had been transported by private vehicle to St John’s Regional Medical Center. Assisting officers responded to the hospital and contacted the victim. The victim was suffering from a single gunshot wound to the face.

The victim said he was near his residence when a vehicle drove up and passenger exited the car. The passenger challenged the victim and then pulled out a handgun and fired once at the victim. The victim was then driven to the hospital where he is listed in stable condition.

Investigators feel the incident is possibly tagger related and are not releasing the victims name for fear of retaliation. Anyone with information is asked to call Det. Mike Thomas at (805) 385-7660 or remain anonymous and call Crime Stoppers at 1 (800) 222-TIPS

The investigation is continuing.