News Release: DUI and Driver’s License Checkpoint and DUI Enforcement Patrols (11/10/2021)

NEWS RELEASE

 

DATE:           November 10, 2021

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

CONTACT:   Ricardo Vazquez, Sergeant   

                     (805) 385-7847 | [email protected]

 

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

 

The Oxnard Police Department will have additional officers on patrol on Friday, November 12, 2021, 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:                        November 10, 2021, 4:30 p.m.

SUBJECT:                 Butane Honey Oil Lab Explosion

SUSPECTS:               William Smith, 56-year-old Oxnard resident (Deceased)

                                       Vincent McMahon, 59-year-old Oxnard resident

LOCATION:               1300 Gardenia Street, Oxnard                                       

CONTACT:                Brandon Ordelheide, Sergeant

                                   805-256-5121, [email protected]

                                   

                               

     

On October 27, 2021 at 6:02 PM, the Oxnard Fire Department requested assistance with a structure fire that occurred in the 1300 block of Gardenia Street. Oxnard Police Officers arrived on scene and located evidence of a butane honey oil (BHO) lab. The Oxnard Drug Enforcement Unit responded to the residence and began a narcotics investigation with the assistance of the Oxnard Fire Department

 

DEU detectives learned that William Smith and Vincent McMahon were in the process of extracting the THC from the marijuana plants when an unknown ignition source caused an explosion and fire. Both subjects were transported by ambulance to the hospital with critical burn injuries. A 79-year-old female resident was outside of the residence when the explosion occurred. The female did not sustain any injuries and was relocated by the American Red Cross. Ventura County Adult Protective Services was notified regarding the incident.  

 

On November 2, 2021, DEU detectives learned that William Smith died as a result of injuries he sustained in the explosion. Vincent McMahon remains hospitalized with critical injuries. The investigation is on-going.

 

A butane honey oil conversion lab converts marijuana into hash oil or "honey oil." The extraction process uses parts of the marijuana plant and converts them to a more concentrated oil using butane gas in the process. Since butane is a highly-flammable gas, the extraction process is dangerous and non-regulated BHO labs pose a significant risk to public safety.      

 

The Oxnard Police Department is committed to reducing narcotics related crimes in the City of Oxnard.  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:            November 5, 2021, 4:43 p.m.  

SUBJECT:   Fatal Traffic Collision

LOCATION:  H Street at Holly Avenue, Oxnard

DRIVER/VEHICLE: 84-year-old female of Oxnard, Ca. /

                                    2000 Toyota Tacoma

DRIVER/VEHICLE: 40-year-old male of Oxnard, Ca. /

                                    2004 Dodge Durango

CONTACT:   Jose Diaz, Senior Officer

                        (805) 385-7749 | [email protected]

On November 5, 2021, at approximately 4:43 p.m., Oxnard Police Officers and EMS personnel responded to a call for service regarding a traffic collision that occurred on H Street at Holly Avenue.  Oxnard Police Department Traffic Officers responded to assist with the investigation. Based on the preliminary investigation, it was determined that a 2004 Dodge Durango was traveling North on H Street when a 2000 Toyota Tacoma, traveling west on Holly Avenue, entered the intersection. The Dodge Durango was involved in a collision with the Toyota Tacoma

The driver of the 2004 Dodge Durango, identified as a 40-year-old male of Oxnard, suffered minor injuries and later received medical treatment at Community Memorial Hospital. The driver of the 2000 Toyota Tacoma, an 84-year-old female of Oxnard, sustained critical injuries and was transported to Ventura County Medical Center. Sadly, on November 7, 2021, the 84-year old female succumbed to her injuries. Investigators do not believe alcohol was a factor in this collision. The investigation into this collision is on-going.

Anyone who witnessed this traffic collision is urged to contact Senior Officer Jose Diaz at (805) 385-7749 or via email at [email protected]

NEWS RELEASE

 

DATE:          November 5, 2021

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

LOCATION:  7-Eleven, 2201 E. Gonzales Road

                     Circle K, 2200 N. Rose Avenue

                     Vallarta Supermarket, 2690 E. Vineyard Avenue

CONTACT:   Rocky Marquez, Sergeant 

                     (805) 200-2337 | [email protected]

 

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 clerks in the City of Oxnard for selling alcohol to minors on November 5, 2021.  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 11 retail licensees in the City of Oxnard.   

 

Those who sold 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 drunken 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.

 

 

DATE / TIME PREPARED:  November 5, 2021 / 10:00 p.m.

 

 

 

NEWS RELEASE

 

DATE:                        November 5, 2021, 12:38 a.m.  

SUBJECT:                 Fatal traffic collision involving a motorcyclist

LOCATION:               Ventura Road at Hemlock Street, Oxnard

DRIVER/VEHICLE:   54-year-old male of Oxnard, CA

                      (Name withheld pending notification to next of kin)

                                  1986 Harley-Davidson motorcycle             

 CONTACT:               Ricardo Vazquez, Sergeant

                                  (805) 385-7847 | [email protected]

On November 5, 2021, at approximately 12:38 a.m., Oxnard officers and EMS personnel responded to a call for service regarding a motorcyclist down in the roadway on Ventura Road south of Hemlock Street.  When officers arrived at the scene of the incident, they discovered that a motorcyclist, identified as a 54-year-old male of Oxnard, had been involved in a single-vehicle collision.  The motorcyclist was immediately transported to the Ventura County Medical Center where he succumbed to his injuries. 

Based on the initial investigation, it was determined that the motorcyclist was southbound Ventura Road when he collided with the center divider south of Hemlock Street.  The impact caused the motorcyclist to be ejected off his motorcycle.  It is unknown what caused the motorcyclist to veer towards the center divider causing the collision.

An investigation is ongoing regarding the collision and to determine whether speed, drugs, and/or alcohol were involved.   

Anyone who has information regarding this collision is urged to contact Sergeant Ricardo Vazquez at (805) 385-7847 or via email at [email protected].  Also, anyone with information regarding this case can contact the Oxnard Police Department at (805) 385-7600.

NEWS RELEASE

 

DATE:            October 29, 2021, 11:21 A.M.

SUBJECT:   Shooting Incident

LOCATION:  2500 Block of Spur Drive

CONTACT:   Carey Everhart, Detective           

(805) 486-6288                                

[email protected]          

 

 

On October 29, 2021 at approximately 11:21 A.M., officers from the Oxnard Police Department were dispatched to a shooting victim in the 2500 block of Spur Drive. When officers arrived, they located the victim, a 27-year-old male Oxnard resident, down in the street. The victim was suffering from gunshot wounds to his upper body. The victim was transported to a local hospital where he is listed in critical condition.  

 

Investigators from the Special Operations Division are currently investigating the shooting and no further information is available at this time. Investigators are encouraging anyone with any information about this incident to contact Detective Carey Everhart at (805) 486-6288 or [email protected].

 

The Oxnard Police Department’s Violent Crimes Unit is committed to reducing gang crimes    and gun violence in the City of Oxnard through the strict enforcement of laws specifically targeting known, active gang members residing in the city.  Anyone with information regarding 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.  You can also remain anonymous by calling the Ventura County Crime Stoppers at (800) 222-8477. You can also visit this site: www.venturacountycrimestoppers.org to submit a tip via text or email. 

 

DATE / TIME PREPARED:  October 29, 2021 / 10:00 P.M.

NEWS RELEASE

 

DATE:           October 30, 2021

SUBJECT:    DUI and Driver’s License Checkpoint Results

CONTACT:   Ricardo Vazquez, Sergeant

                     (805) 385-7847 | [email protected]

Seven Drivers Arrested at the Oxnard DUI Checkpoint

Oxnard, Ca. – 249 drivers were screened while driving through a DUI checkpoint on October 29, 2021. The checkpoint was held at Saviers Road north of Channel Islands Blvd. from 7:00 p.m. to 1:30 a.m. 

 

Twenty-three drivers were cited for operating a vehicle unlicensed or with a suspended/revoked license. Seven drivers were arrested for DUI-alcohol and four drivers were arrested for misdemeanor or felony warrants.

 

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.

 

As businesses continue to reopen, including bars and restaurants, impaired driving remains a top traffic safety concern.  Funding for this checkpoint was provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.