![]() Jeri Williams Chief of Police |
Oxnard Police Department
R. Jason Benites Scott Whitney |
OXNARD POLICE DEPARTMENT
NEWS RELEASE
INCIDENT: | Arrest of Post Release Offender for hit and run, drug possession, and warrants | |
DATE/TIME: | Monday, August 11, 2014 at 7:49 p.m. | |
LOCATION: | Victoria Av. and Woolley Rd. | |
SUSPECT(S): | Lewis Avalos, 30 years, Oxnard Resident | |
SUSPECT VEHICLE(S): | White Cadillac CTS | |
PREPARED BY: | Scott Hebert, Commander |
DETAILS:
On Monday August 11, 2014, at approximately 7:49 p.m., an Oxnard officer attempted to make a traffic stop on a driver who failed to stop at a stop sign at Hill St. and J St. When the officer turned around to stop the vehicle, the driver fled at a high rate of speed and drove in a reckless manner in an attempt to avoid police contact. The officer tried to catch up to the vehicle as it sped westbound on Woolley Rd. toward Victoria Av., but was unable to do so. When the officer got to the intersection of Woolley Rd. and Victoria Av., he found the suspect vehicle had crashed into another vehicle. The driver and a passenger fled from the vehicle, with the suspect being caught a short time later attempting to flee on foot in an adjacent residential neighborhood. The passenger was not located. The driver of the other vehicle involved in the traffic collision was not injured.
The suspect in this incident, Lewis Avalos, was arrested for hit and run, resisting arrest, drug possession, and outstanding warrants. One of the warrants was for failing to report to probation as a condition of the Post Release Offender (PRO) program.
The Post Release Offender Program was created by Assembly Bill 109 – the 2011 Public Safety Realignment – which was effective October 1, 2011. This program mandates that individuals sentenced to non-violent, non-serious (irrespective of priors) or non-sex offenses will serve their sentences in county jails instead of state prison. The public should be aware that release under AB 109 is based on the offender’s most recent committing offense. Prior convictions are not considered.
Persons with information about this incident are encouraged to call the Oxnard Police Department at (805) 385-7740.
DATE / TIME PREPARED: August 11, 2014 at 11:30 p.m.