News | Page 46 | Oxnard Police Department

NEWS RELEASE

DATE: May 17, 2023

SUBJECT: California Department of Justice to conduct independent review of latest

officer-involved critical incident

CONTACT: Alex Arnett, Commander

(805) 385-7620 (Mon-Thu 8Am-6pm) alex.arnett@oxnardpd.org (after hours)

On May 15, 2023, officials from the California Department of Justice (DOJ) notified the Oxnard Police Department that their agency will assume control of Oxnard Police Department’s investigation of the officer-involved shooting incident that occurred on April 28, 2023. This action is pursuant to the provisions of Assembly Bill 1506 (AB1506), which is codified in Government Code section 12525.3.

AB1506 calls for the DOJ to investigate all incidents of officer-involved shootings resulting in the death of an “unarmed civilian,” defined as "anyone who is not in possession of a deadly weapon." Prior to AB1506, critical incidents in California such as this had been typically handled by local law enforcement agencies and county district attorneys.

From Police Chief Jason Benites, “We made it a practice to promptly notify the California DOJ after each of the recent officer-involved critical incidents. Our department promptly notified DOJ after the April 28th officer-involved critical incident, which concerned an officer shooting a man that was armed with a knife. After DOJ officials reviewed video from the incident, they contacted our agency and advised that they would assume control of our investigation. In our continued pursuit of transparency, we welcome this. Our department will work with DOJ to ensure they have all the information and materials they need to conduct a thorough and independent review of this incident. This lends to maintaining the public’s trust, which we value.”

The Oxnard Police Department released a Critical Incident Community Briefing video to the public on May 9, 2023. A link to the video for this incident can be found at: https://youtu.be/rz2_jIvHBOM

Department of Justice news release: https://oag.ca.gov/news/press-releases/california-department-justice-investigating-oxnard-officer-involved-shooting

To learn more about Assembly Bill 1506 click on this link: https://oag.ca.gov/ois-incidents

Please be advised that traffic has been closed for eastbound and westbound traffic on Fifth Street between Buena Vista Avenue and Pacific Avenue, due to a traffic collision impacting both directions of travel. This may also impact traffic at the intersection of Rose Avenue and Fifth Street. Please consider using alternate routes this afternoon.

We will advise once traffic has been completely open in these areas.

Respectfully,

Martin Cook, Sergeant

Patrol Division/ SWAT

martin.cook@oxnardpd.org

805-432-5375

NEWS RELEASE

DATE: May 22, 2023

SUBJECT: Narcotic Sales Arrest

SUSPECTS: Roman Hernandez, 41 year-old Oxnard Resident

LOCATION: 300 block of Percy Street, Oxnard

CONTACT: Jose Velazquez, Sergeant

(805) 385-7623 (Tue-Fri 10AM-8PM) jose.velazquez@oxnardpd.org

Beginning in May 2023, the Oxnard Police Department’s Drug Enforcement Unit (DEU) began an investigation into Roman Hernandez. Hernandez was believed to be involved in the sale of narcotics. The investigation allowed DEU detectives to develop enough evidence to secure a search warrant.

On May 22^nd, 2023, DEU detectives along with patrol officers, executed a search warrant at the residence of Hernandez. The search of the residence led to the seizure of suspected methamphetamine and fentanyl packaged for sales. In total, Hernandez possessed over 400 individual doses of methamphetamine and over 500 doses of fentanyl.

Hernandez is a registered sex offender and has a prior felony conviction for narcotic sales while in the possession of a firearm. Hernandez was charged with narcotic sales violations and booked into the Ventura County Main Jail.

Anyone with information regarding this case or other criminal activity is encouraged to contact the Oxnard Police Department at (805) 385-7600, or online via the Oxnard Police Department’s website: www.oxnardpd.org, and clicking on “Report Suspicious Activity.” You can remain anonymous if you choose to do so by calling the Ventura County Crime Stoppers at (800)222-8477. You can also visit their website: www.venturacountycrimestoppers.org to submit a tip via text or email.

NEWS RELEASE

DATE: May 15, 2022

SUBJECT: Click it or Ticket Campaign

CONTACT: Mike Wood, Corporal

(805) 385-7749 (Mon-Thu 7pm-5pm) | Mike.Wood@oxnardpd.org

“Click It or Ticket” Campaign Reminds Californians
to Always Wear Their Seat Belt

Seat Belt Safety Campaign Runs Through Memorial Day

The Oxnard Police Department reminds everyone taking a trip to visit friends or family over the Memorial Day Weekend to always buckle up and keep children in child safety seats.

This year’s Click It or Ticket campaign is from May 22-June 4. During this time, the Oxnard Police Department will have additional officers on patrol actively looking for drivers and passengers who are not wearing a seat belt. This includes vehicles where children are not secured in child safety seats.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), nearly 12,000 people killed in crashes throughout the country in 2021 were not wearing seat belts. In California, 756 people killed in crashes in 2020 were not wearing seat belts, or nearly 20 percent of all traffic deaths statewide.

California law requires a child to be secured in a safety or booster seat until they are at least 8 years old or at least 4 feet, 9 inches tall. Children under the age of 2 must ride in a rear-facing seat unless the child weighs 40 or more pounds or is 40 or more inches tall.

Funding for this program was provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

NEWS RELEASE

DATE: May 13, 2023

SUBJECT: DUI/Driver’s License Checkpoint Results

CONTACT: Jose Diaz, Sergeant

(805) 385-7847 (Mon-Thu 7AM-5PM) | jose.diaz@oxnardpd.org

Three impaired drivers arrested during DUI checkpoint.

On May 13, 2023, between the hours of 7:00 p.m. and 2:00 a.m., the Oxnard Police Department and California Highway Patrol – Ventura Office, held a DUI/Driver’s License checkpoint at Pleasant Valley Road, west of C Street. The operation resulted in three arrests for impaired driving and thirty-seven citations.

Checkpoint locations are based on a history of crashes and DUI arrests. The primary purpose of checkpoints is not to make arrests but to promote public safety by deterring drivers from driving impaired.

Funding for this checkpoint and DUI enforcement patrols was provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

NEWS RELEASE

DATE: May 12, 2023

SUBJECT: Three Oxnard Store Clerks Cited for Selling Alcohol to Minors

LOCATION: Oxnard, California

CONTACT: Corporal Steven Ramirez II, F.A.C.T. Compliance Officer

(805) 385-3920 (Mon-Thurs 8am-5pm) | steven.ramirez@oxnardpd.org

Three Store Clerks in the City of Oxnard Cited for Selling Alcohol to Minors

The Oxnard Police Department with assistance from the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control has cited three store clerks in the City of Oxnard for selling alcohol to minors on May 12, 2023. The actions were the result of a minor decoy operation in which minors, under the direct supervision of police officers, attempted to purchase alcohol from 12 retail licensees in the City of Oxnard.

Those who sold alcohol to the minor face a minimum fine of $250, and/or 24 to 32 hours of community service for a first violation. In addition, ABC will take administrative action against the alcoholic beverage license of the business where alcohol was sold to a minor. That may include a fine, a suspension of the license, or the permanent revocation of the license.

Compliance checks are being conducted statewide to reduce the availability of alcohol to minors. Statistics have shown that young people under the age of 21 have a higher rate of drunk driving fatalities than the general adult population. The Oxnard Police Department is committed to reducing the availability of alcohol to minors.

Minor Decoy operations have been conducted by local law enforcement throughout the state since the 1980s. When the program first began, the violation rate of retail establishments selling to minors was as high as 40 to 50 percent. When conducted on a routine basis, the rate has dropped in some cities as low as 10 percent or even below.

In 1994, the California Supreme Court ruled unanimously that the use of underage decoys is a valid tool of law enforcement to ensure that licensees are complying with the law.

Funding for this program was provided by a grant from the California Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) through the department’s Grant Assistance Program. ABC is a Department of the Business, Consumer Services and Housing Agency.

NEWS RELEASE

DATE: May 12, 2023

SUBJECT: DUI and Driver’s License Checkpoint and DUI Enforcement Patrols

CONTACT: Mike Wood, Corporal

(805) 385-7749 (Mon-Thurs 7AM-5PM) | Mike.Wood@oxnardpd.org

Oxnard Police Department to hold DUI Checkpoint and use extra officers to patrol for suspected impaired drivers

The Oxnard Police Department and California Highway Patrol – Ventura Office will have additional officers on patrol on Friday, May 12, 2023, specifically looking for drivers suspected of being under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs. In addition, the Oxnard Police Department will hold a DUI/driver’s license checkpoint at an undisclosed location within the city. The DUI Checkpoint and DUI patrols will be from 7:00 p.m. to 2:00 a.m.

DUI checkpoints and patrols are done in locations with a history of DUI-related collisions and arrests. During the checkpoint, officers will be looking for signs of alcohol and/or drug impairment, with officers checking drivers for proper licensing.

In 2018, 1,069 people were killed on California roads in crashes involving drivers who had a blood alcohol content over the legal limit (.08 or above). The Oxnard Police Department reminds the public that impaired driving is not just from alcohol. Prescription or over-the-counter medications with an operating heavy machinery warning on the label can also impair. While medicinal and recreational marijuana are legal, driving under the influence of marijuana is illegal.

If you plan on drinking or are taking medications that can affect your ability to drive, please take these precautions to avoid a DUI:

● Always use a designated sober driver – a friend who is not drinking, ride-share, cab, or public transportation – to get home.

● Walking while impaired is also dangerous. Have someone sober walk you home or stay with you until a sober driver is available to pick you up.

● Report drunk drivers – Call 911.

● Hosting a party? Offer nonalcoholic drinks. Monitor who is drinking and how they are getting home.

A DUI arrest is not cheap. Drivers charged with DUI face an average of $13,500 in fines and penalties, as well as a suspended license and possible jail time.

Funding for this program was provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

NEWS RELEASE

DATE: May 12, 2023

SUBJECT: Fatal Collision Involving Pedestrian

LOCATION: Oxnard Boulevard and Citrus Grove Lane

DRIVER: Johnathan Canseco, 26-year-old Oxnard Resident

VEHICLE: 2003 Ford Expedition

PEDESTRIAN: 65-year-old female (name withheld pending next of kin notification)

CONTACT: Alexis Arellano, Traffic Investigator

(805) 385-7750 (Tue-Fri 7AM-5PM) | alexis.arellano@oxnardpd.org

On May 11, 2023, at approximately 10:37 p.m., officers from the Oxnard Police Department responded to a call for service of an injury traffic collision involving a vehicle and a pedestrian on Oxnard Boulevard and Citrus Grove Lane.

Upon arrival, officers located a female pedestrian severely injured in the roadway. Emergency medical personnel quickly transported the female to the Ventura County Medical Center; however, she succumbed to her injuries shortly after arrival. The driver of the vehicle, Johnathan Canseco, remained at the scene of the collision.

The preliminary investigation revealed Canseco was traveling southbound on Oxnard Boulevard approaching Citrus Grove Lane when he struck the female pedestrian in the roadway, north of the intersection. Traffic investigators are currently examining the cause of the traffic collision and are still determining if alcohol or drugs were a contributing factor. Witnesses, or anyone with information regarding this collision, are urged to contact Traffic Investigator Alexis Arellano at (805) 385-7750 or via email at alexis.arellano@oxnardpd.org.

If the inquiry is outside of the investigator’s standard business hours, we encourage the use of the investigator’s email. We have found that an email message with a callback request is a more effective way to reach the investigator. Our watch commanders will continue to speak to those incidents that center around field operations, and still can be reached at (805) 385-7746 or (805) 385-7778.

NEWS RELEASE

DATE: May 11, 2023, 1:07 PM

SUBJECT: Stabbing

LOCATION: E.O. Green Junior High School

VICTIM: Juvenile, 13 years – Name withheld

SUSPECT: Juvenile, 14 years – Name withheld

CONTACT: Ryan Carey, Detective

(805) 486-6297 (Tue-Fri 7 AM-5 PM) | ryan.carey@oxnardpd.org (after hours)

On the above date and time, a stabbing occurred during dismissal at E.O. Green Junior High School between a 13-year-old student and a 14-year-old student during a fight. The 13-year-old was taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. The 14-year-old has been taken into custody by the Oxnard police department.

Oxnard Police Department detectives are investigating the incident. Student safety is a priority for our schools and local law enforcement.

Anyone with information regarding this case is encouraged to contact Detective Ryan Carey at (805) 486-6297 or ryan.carey@oxnardpd.org. You can stay anonymous if you'd like to.

NEWS RELEASE

INCIDENT:	Oxnard Police Department’s 24th Annual Memorial Ceremony
DATE/TIME:	Wednesday, May 17, 2023, from 10:30 am to 11:30 am
LOCATION:	251 South C Street, Oxnard, California
PREPARED BY:	Mike Thomas, Sergeant
CONTACT PERSON AND CONTACT INFO:	Sergeant Mike Thomas (805) 385-8300 Michael.Thomas@oxnardpd.org

DETAILS:

On Wednesday, May 17, 2023, from 10:30 am to 11:30 am, the Oxnard Police Department will be hosting its 24th Annual Memorial Ceremony. The ceremony will occur in front of the Oxnard Police Department.

In 1962, President John F. Kennedy signed a proclamation that designated May 15th as Peace Officers Memorial Day and the week in which that date falls as Police Week. Decades later, the event became known as National Police Week. This year, National Police Week is from Sunday, May 14, 2023, to Saturday, May 20, 2023. During National Police Week, thousands of law enforcement officers and survivors travel to Washington D.C. and other parts of the United States to honor those officers that made the ultimate sacrifice.

Our Memorial Ceremony will honor Oxnard’s seven fallen police officers who lost their lives in the line of duty. Each officer made the ultimate sacrifice while proudly wearing the badge of the Oxnard Police Department and bravely working to keep the City of Oxnard safe.

Our fallen Oxnard Police Officers are:

Deputy Constable Andrew McNaughton

End of Watch – March 23, 1906

Constable William E. Kelley

End of Watch – August 20, 1921

Officer Albert Gasperetti

End of Watch – April 15, 1956

Officer Frederick J. Clark

End of Watch – October 12, 1971

Senior Officer John Adair

End of Watch – October 7, 1980

Officer James E. O’Brien

End of Watch – December 2, 1993

Officer James R. Jensen, Jr.

End of Watch – March 13, 1996

The ceremony is open to the public and community members are encouraged to attend to honor our fallen police officers and pay tribute to all law enforcement officers who continue to serve.

Several streets surrounding the Oxnard Police Department will be closed beginning at 7:00 am until approximately 12:00 pm. Vehicle traffic will be diverted from the area and intersections will be controlled by police personnel. Motorists traveling through the area should expect minor delays and are asked to avoid the area if they are not attending the ceremony. The following intersections will be closed: