INCIDENT:	Robbery and Assault with a Deadly Weapon
DATE/TIME:	10/04/08 at 0315 hours
LOCATION:	Vagabond Motel located at 1245 North Oxnard Blvd.
VICTIM/S:	18 and 26 year-old Oxnard residents
SUSPECT/S:	21 year-old Hispanic male 23 year-old Black male
PREPARED BY:	Senior Officer Chris Williams

DETAILS: 

On 10/4/08 at approximately 0315 hours, the victims were attending a party at the Vagabond Motel. They were approached by two subjects who demanded their money and jewelry. When one of the victims refused to hand over his jewelry he was struck in the head with a beer bottle. The other victim was struck several times with a baseball bat.

Both suspects fled with an undisclosed amount of money and are still outstanding.

Anyone with information regarding this incident can contact detective Paul Knapp at (805) 385-7796 or leave a message on the Violent Crimes Hotline at (805) 982-7070.

An investigation is continuing.

INCIDENT:	Fatal Traffic Collision
DATE/TIME:	November 10, 2009 / 1749 hours
LOCATION:	2000 Block E. Bard Road
PEDESTRIAN:	H/M, 73 of Oxnard (name withheld pending notification of next of kin)
DRIVER:	Michael Santoro, 44 years old of Palmdale
VEHICLE:	Black, Volkswagen Passat
PREPARED BY:	Randy Latimer, Traffic Sergeant

DETAILS: 

On November 10, 2009, at approximately 1749 hours, officers from the Oxnard Police Department responded to the area of Bard Road and Pleasant Valley Road after receiving a call that a pedestrian had been struck by a vehicle. Emergency medical personnel also responded to the scene. Upon arrival, officers found that a Hispanic male, 73 years old had been struck by a Volkswagen, Passat that had been traveling eastbound on Bard Road. The pedestrian was transported to Saint Johns Regional Medical Center where he succumbed to his injuries.

According to witnesses and subsequent investigation by traffic personnel, the pedestrian was crossing southbound across Bard Road outside of a marked crosswalk and away from an intersection. He stepped into the path of the oncoming vehicle and was struck. The vehicle was traveling at a normal speed at the time of the collision.

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

INCIDENT:	Robbery
DATE/TIME:	February 8, 2010 7:35 PM
LOCATION:	3800 Block of Channel Islands Blvd., Oxnard
VICTIM(S):	Not being released at this time
SUSPECT(S):	Not being released at this time, A 25 years old male
WITNESS(ES):	N/A
SUSPECT VEHICLE(S):	N/A
LOSS:	Undetermined amount of cash
PREPARED BY:	Commander Mike Adair
CONTACT PERSON & CONTACT INFO:	Press Information Officer David Keith

DETAILS: 

On February 8, 2010 at 7:35 PM the Oxnard Police Department responded to a call of a robbery at a business in the 3800 block of Channel Islands Blvd., Oxnard. Upon arrival, officers discovered the business employee had suffered minor wounds inflicted during an altercation with the suspect. The employee did not require medical treatment.

The suspect had fled the scene prior to the officers arriving and a search of the area was conducted. A 25 year old male subject was later detained in the area. That subject was arrested by officers and detectives were called to the scene.

The Violent Crimes Unit detectives are currently conducting an investigation. Investigators are asking anyone with information related to the crime to contact Detective Alex Arnett at 805-486-6297 or leave a message on the Violent Crimes Hotline at 805-982-7070.

John Crombach Chief of Police

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

OXNARD POLICE DEPARTMENT

PRESS RELEASE

INCIDENT:	ARREST OF JANE LAUT
DATE/TIME:	2-13-2010 @ 9:30 am
LOCATION:	Near the intersection of 3rd and F Streets
VICTIM(S):	David Laut, 52 of Oxnard – murdered 8/28/09
SUSPECT(S):	Jane Laut, 52 of Oxnard
WITNESS(ES):
SUSPECT VEHICLE(S):
LOSS:
PREPARED BY:	David Keith, OPD PIO
CONTACT PERSON & CONTACT INFO:	David Keith @ 385-7631

DETAILS: 

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 Drivers License Checkpoint
DATE/TIME:	February 19th, 2010 1800-0200
LOCATION:	City of Oxnard
CONTACT PERSON & CONTACT INFO:	Brian Woolley, Traffic Coordinator (805) 385-7749

DETAILS:

The Oxnard Police Department will be conducting its second of three multi-location sobriety and drivers license checkpoints this month on Friday night, February 19th, 2010, 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.

From the beginning of 2010, the Oxnard Police department has arrested over 125 drivers for DUI and has investigated 30 DUI related crashes.

The Oxnard Police Department will conduct additional DUI checkpoints at various locations on Friday, February 26th, from 6:00 P.M. to 2:00 A.M. All of 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.

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].

John Crombach Chief of Police

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

OXNARD POLICE DEPARTMENT

PRESS RELEASE

INCIDENT:	Vehicle Pursuit Ends in Crash — Two Arrested
DATE/TIME:	3-4-10 / 1913 hours
LOCATION:	1000 block of W. Juniper Street, Oxnard
SUSPECT(S):	Ernesto Nieto, 25 years, of Oxnard Octavio Salgado, 28 years, of Oxnard
PREPARED BY:	Sergeant Tim Kelley

DETAILS:

On 3-4-10 at 7:13 P.M. officers from the Oxnard Police Department observed a suspicious vehicle in the 1000 block of West Juniper Street. Upon seeing the approaching police cars, the suspicious vehicle fled from the area driving the wrong way on the two-lane road.

Officers initiated a brief pursuit of the fleeing vehicle until the suspect car crashed into a parked vehicle in the 1400 block of W. Guava Street. Both occupants fled from their car. The driver (Salgado) was detained near the scene of the crash. The passenger (Nieto) was located in the backyard of a nearby residence.

Both subjects were booked into the Ventura County Jail—Nieto for violation of parole and Salgado for driving under the influence of alcohol, felony evading and misdemeanor hit and run. Neither of the subjects was injured in the crash.

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

INCIDENT:	Specialized Enforcement Detail Nets 9 Drunk Drivers
DATE/TIME:	March 6, 2010 / 8:00 P.M. – 3:00 A.M.
LOCATION:	Downtown Oxnard
PREPARED BY:	Officer James Langford

DETAILS: 

A directed patrol of downtown Oxnard late Friday night into early Saturday morning resulted in the arrest of 9 drivers for suspicion of driving under the influence (DUI) of alcohol and/or drugs.

During the seven-hour operation, Oxnard officers assigned to the Central Business District deployed throughout Oxnard’s downtown area with a specific focus on impaired driving. In addition to the 9 drivers arrested for DUI, one additional person was arrested on a miscellaneous charge, and five citations were issued for various infractions. Additionally, 10 vehicles were towed because of arrests made or for driver license infractions and the owners of the vehicles will face a minimum tow fee of $494.00

The Oxnard Police Department will continue conducting DUI enforcement 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 911. The saturations 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:	Vehicle pursuit and gang members in possession of firearm
DATE/TIME:	April 12, 2010/1600 hours
LOCATION:	Channel Islands Blvd and Ventura Road
VICTIM(S):	None
SUSPECT(S):	Manuel Cortez, 26 year old male, Oxnard resident Eric Hartman, 31 year old male, Oxnard resident
WITNESS(ES):
VICTIM VEHICLE(S):	N/A
LOSS:
PREPARED BY:	Sergeant Bill Crisostomo
CONTACT PERSON & CONTACT INFO:

DETAILS: 

On April 12, 2010 at approximately 1600 hours, Officers from the Oxnard Police Department Special Enforcement Unit attempted to conduct a traffic stop on a 2007 silver Pontiac Vibe in the area of Ventura Road and Channel Islands Blvd. The driver, Manuel Cortez failed to yield and a vehicle pursuit ensued. At the termination of the pursuit, Cortez and a male passenger, Eric Hartman, fled from the vehicle on foot. As they fled they discarded a loaded 9mm machine pistol. Hartman was taken into custody after a brief foot chase and Cortez was taken into custody after being found in hiding in a trashcan during an area search.

Eric Hartman was arrested for possession of weapon, resisting arrest and violation of the gang injunction. Manuel Cortez was arrested for felony vehicle evasion, being under the influence of a controlled substance and violation of parole.

Both subjects are gang members and were later booked into the Ventura County Jail.

John Crombach Chief of Police

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

OXNARD POLICE DEPARTMENT

PRESS RELEASE

INCIDENT:	Arrest of Hit and Run Fatal Collision Suspect
DATE/TIME:	Thursday, April 22, 2010 at 0940 hours
LOCATION:	Hemlock Street and M Street
VICTIM(S):	Daloris Galiney, 56 years, Resident of Oxnard
SUSPECT(S):	Clifford Bernard McLucas, 52 years, Resident of Oxnard
PREPARED BY:	Senior Officer Maria Peña, Traffic Collision Investigator

DETAILS:

On April 22, 2010, at 0940 hours, Clifford Bernard McLucas, a 52 year old resident of Oxnard, was arrested for vehicular manslaughter and felony hit and run in connection with the December 23, 2009, traffic collision death of Daloris Galiney.

The collision investigation revealed that a van, driven by McLucas, was traveling eastbound on Hemlock Street from Ventura Road. For an unknown reason, the van veered into the opposing lane of traffic and struck two parked vehicles causing the van to overturn, injuring McLucas and causing mortal injuries to his passenger, Ms. Galiney. McLucas fled the scene after the collision and was later interviewed by investigators and was determined to be the driver.

He was arrested while in custody at the Ventura County Jail on an unrelated charge.

John Crombach Chief of Police

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

OXNARD POLICE DEPARTMENT

PRESS RELEASE

INCIDENT:	Road closures for the 27th Annual Strawberry Festival
DATE/TIME:	May 15th and 16th 2010, 0800 – 2000 hours
LOCATION:	College Park, Oxnard
VICTIM(S):
SUSPECT(S):
WITNESS(ES):
SUSPECT VEHICLE(S):
LOSS:
PREPARED BY:
CONTACT PERSON & CONTACT INFO:	Senior Officer Brian Woolley Traffic Coordinator (805) 385-7749

DETAILS: 

The 27th annual Strawberry Festival will be held this weekend, May 15th and 16th, at College Park. Over the past several years, the festival has experienced crowds totaling 70,000 over the two day event.

In an attempt to accommodate the anticipated heavy attendance at this year’s Strawberry Festival, the Oxnard Police Traffic Unit will have officers and additional traffic control personnel assigned to several intersections surrounding the festival site. There will be some road closures and detours to allow for safe and efficient vehicular and pedestrian travel to and from the festival.

The recommended method of transportation to the Strawberry Festival is via the shuttle bus service. Shuttle buses will be picking up festival goers at the following locations:

1. Camarillo Premium Outlets, 740 E. Ventura Boulevard, Camarillo
2. Channel Islands Harbor, 3400 block South Harbor Blvd., Oxnard
3. Centerpoint Mall, 2655 Saviers Road, Oxnard
4. Oxnard Transportation Center, 201 E. Fourth Street, Oxnard
5. The Palms (Oxnard Outlet Mall), 2000 Outlet Center Drive, Oxnard

The following roadways will be affected by this weekend’s festival:

Rose Avenue
Rose Avenue between Channel Islands Boulevard and Bard Road will be closed to all non-festival traffic from 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM on both festival days.

Pleasant Valley Road between Butler Road and Bard Road
Pleasant Valley Road, between Butler Road and Bard Road will be affected by heavy traffic from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM on both festival days.

Bard Road between Pleasant Valley Road and Rose Avenue
Bard Road, between Pleasant Valley Road and Rose Avenue, will be affected by heavy traffic from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM on both festival days.

Gary Drive
Gary Drive, between Boston Way and Rose Avenue, will be closed to all traffic from 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM on both festival days.

In addition to these closures, traffic near the festival site will be heavy. Local residents are encouraged to use alternate routes for trips in and out of the city.

For Further Information regarding road closures, contact Senior Officer Brian Woolley at 385-7749. For further information regarding the festival go to: www.strawberry-fest.org.