OXNARD DEPARTAMENTO DE POLICÍA

COMUNICADO DE PRENSA

PARA PUBLICACION INMEDIATA: Octubre 24, 2017

MEDIOS DE CONTACTO:

Scott Brewer, Emergency Services Manager

Ciudad de Oxnard

(805) 385-7717, [email protected]

OXNARD, Calif.- La Ciudad de Oxnard, in response to the heat wave, will be operating emergency cooling centers throughout the City to help residents beat the heat. Hoy, temperatures could reach as high as 100 degrees. With high temperatures and humidity, heat can become dangerous, especially for seniors, niños, pets, people who work outside, and people with certain health conditions. Staying safe in high heat is important. Follow these simple tips to stay cool:

• Drink plenty of cool water! Stay hydrated.
• Wear loose, light-colored clothing that will keep you cool. Wear sunscreen and a hat for protection.
• Check on neighbors who might be vulnerable to the heat, especially those without air conditioning.
• Never leave children or pets in a car – not even for one minute. Temperatures inside a car can quickly skyrocket to deadly levels.
• If you work or play outside, take frequent breaks to hydrate and cool off in the shade.
• Don’t forget the pets! Keep pets indoors if possible. If kept outside, give them plenty of water and shade to rest in.
• Symptoms of heat-related illness include dizziness, fatigue, faintness, headaches, muscle cramps, and increased thirst. If you experience these symptoms, seek medical attention.
• Move to cooler locations that are generally open to the public such as movie theatres, malls, restaurants, or other locations with air conditioners.

If these locations are inaccessible to you the City of Oxnard offers emergency cooling centers where you can beat the heat. These emergency cooling centers are in City facilities. Cooling centers are open and available from 11:00 AM a 5:00 PM unless otherwise noted.

Oxnard Public Libraries

• Main Library- 251 S. A la calle, (805) 385-7500
• South Oxnard Library- 4300 Saviers carretera, (805 ) 385-8129

Recreation Facilities

 

 

• • • • Colonia Gymnasium (open till 3:00pm)- 195 Marquita St., (805) 385-7966
      • South Oxnard Center-200 Bard Rd., (805) 488-8539

It is requested that residents do not bring large packages, artículos, or pets to the cooling centers since these items will not be permitted inside the buildings.

Heat-Related Illnesses

High heat can lead to severe health problems. If you experience the following conditions, seek medical attention immediately.

Heat Cramps

• Symptoms include muscular pains and spasms, usually in the stomach, arms or leg muscles.
• Heat cramps usually result from heavy exertion, such as exercise, during extreme heat.
• Although heat cramps are the least severe of all heat-related problems, they are usually the first signal that the body is having trouble coping with hot temperatures. Heat cramps should be treated immediately with rest, fluids and getting out of the heat.
• Seek medical attention or call 911 if pain is severe or nausea occurs.

Heat Exhaustion

• Symptoms include heavy sweating, pale and clammy moist skin, extreme weakness or fatigue, muscle cramps, headache, dizziness or confusion, nausea or vomiting, fast and shallow breathing, or fainting.
• First Aid: Heat exhaustion should be treated immediately with rest in a cool area, sipping water or a sports drink, applying cool and wet cloths.
• If left untreated, victims may go into heat stroke.
• Seek medical attention if the person does not respond to the above, basic treatment.

Heat Stroke

• Symptoms include flushed, hot, moist skin or a lack of sweat, high body temperature, confusion or dizziness, possible unconsciousness, throbbing headache, rapid, or strong pulse.
• Heat stroke is the most severe heat-related illness and occurs when a person’s temperature control system, which produces sweat, stops working.
• Heat stroke may lead to brain damage and death.
• First Aid: Llamada 911. Move victim to a cool shaded area. Fan the body, and spray body with water.

Staying Healthy and Hydrated

The best way to avoid heat-related illness is to stay hydrated. Make sure you look out for your neighbors in the heat! If you see someone who needs help, contact emergency services by calling 911.

For more information contact Scott Brewer, Emergency Services Manager, en [email protected] o (805) 385-7717.

The City of Oxnard is a full-service general law city incorporated in 1903. Oxnard is the largest and most populous city in the County of Ventura, serving 200,000 culturally diverse residents. Read more about the City of Oxnard at www.oxnard.org. Follow us on social media at www.twitter.com/CityofOxnard (@CityofOxnard), www.facebook.com/CityofOxnard and www.vimeo.com/cityofoxnard.

OXNARD DEPARTAMENTO DE POLICÍA

COMUNICADO DE PRENSA

INCIDENTE:	Multi-agency “Notice to Vacate Halaco” Effort
FECHA / HORA:	Octubre 19, 2017 @ 6:30 AM
UBICACIÓN:	Halaco site, 6200 Perkins Road, Oxnard
PREPARADO POR:	Subjefe Jason Benites (805) 385-7624 jason.benites @ oxnardpd.org
PERSONA DE CONTACTO Y INFORMACIÓN DE CONTACTO:	Subjefe Jason Benites (805) 385-7624 jason.benites @ oxnardpd.org

 

DETALLES:

During the early morning hours of Thursday, Octubre 19, the Halaco property at 6200 Perkins Road was the focus of a multi-agency effort to begin the process of vacating trespassers. The operation included social service workers to assist Halaco’s inhabitants.

Led by the Oxnard Police Department, a number of agencies participated in the effort, including Ventura and Simi Valley Police Department’s homeless liaison officers, and California State Parole. Other City of Oxnard resources that were involved included: Code Compliance, Seguridad Animal, the City Attorney’s Office, and Public Works.

Twenty (20) social services workers from nine (9) support agencies participated in the effort, incluso:

• Rescue Mission Alliance
• Salvation Army
• Project Understanding
• Salud conductual del condado de Ventura
• Saint Vincent de Paul
• County Homeless Services
• Acción comunitaria
• Salud Pública del Condado de Ventura
• Ventura County Ambulatory Care

The agencies converged upon the Halaco site in an attempt to contact inhabitants, and serve them with notice that they are trespassing. Eighty-five (85) persons were served notice during this morning’s operation. Sixty (60) of the eighty-five were connected directly with a social services worker. All inhabitants are being directed to vacate the premises by December 5, 2017, or be subject to arrest.

During the course of contacting and serving notice to the site’s inhabitants, seventeen (17) persons were arrested for warrants. A stolen camper trailer was recovered behind a makeshift structure, complete with a garage that housed a pickup truck.

Notices were posted in conspicuous places in both English and Spanish. Officers will make return visits before the December 5th deadline. Social services workers and assistance providers will continue to help inhabitants with their relocation or decision to accept appropriate services.

The Halaco population dramatically increased since this past summer, as did demands upon local public safety resources. During the course of the past several months, an estimated 120 squatters have set up camp at the site. The campsites are mainly on Halaco’s westernmost section, and there are several dozen noticeable makeshift structures. In addition to tents and hazardous structures, approximately fifty (50) cars, trucks, recreational vehicles, and trailers are on the site. Large piles of refuse, including human waste, have been growing on the site as well.

(Several photographs depicting conditions at the Halaco site are included in this news release).

El jefe de policía asistente Jason Benites declaró: “In addition to being a hazard to public health and the environment, Halaco has become a public safety hazard. The type of activity, as well as the amount of activity that has been occurring at the Halaco site has far surpassed a tipping point, and requires intervention by a number of stakeholders.”

At the Oxnard City Council Meeting on Tuesday, Octubre 17, an update and overview of the Halaco situation was provided by Development Services Director Ashley Golden and Assistant Police Chief Jason Benites. The report to the City Council included the following information:

Desde el comienzo del año, the Oxnard Fire Department has responded to the Halaco site twenty-nine (29) veces. Sixteen (16) of these responses involved medical assists, including three (3) overdoses, and four (4) responses related to assault/penetrating wounds/traumatic injury. Siete (7) responses by the Fire Department involved fires at the site, including an encampment that burned down.

The Halaco site has placed an increasing demand upon public safety resources, and has become one of the greatest “repeat call locations” in South Oxnard. During calendar year 2016, there were eighty-six (86) police-related incidents that were directly attributable to the Halaco site. As of October 16, 2017, that number was eighty-seven (87). During the thirty day period prior to October 16, the following noteworthy events occurred at the site:

• A carjacking with the use of a firearm (Septiembre 26)
• A gang member was arrested for being in possession of a shotgun (Octubre 6)
• Three assaults (Octubre 6, 11, y 13)
• Siete (7) stolen vehicles were recovered (another stolen vehicle was recovered during this morning’s operation)

A homicide occurred immediately outside of the property on January 3, and is related to the site.

Assistant Chief Benites added: “These Police and Fire Department responses to Halaco are directly attributable to the actual site. sin embargo, there are many more reported incidents that have connection to the surrounding area.”

Residents and employees from nearby businesses and facilities have also repeatedly stated concerns about the Halaco site. These concerns are echoed by environmental advocates for the Ormond Beach Wetlands, a nature preserve which is adjacent to the site, and contains endangered and threatened species. Given the unsanitary conditions that exist, health concerns are also cited as something that need to be addressed.

Background on Halaco:

The site includes a portion of the Ormond Beach wetlands, one of the few remaining wetlands in the area and home to several endangered or threatened species.

The Halaco Engineering Company operated a secondary metal smelter at the site from 1965 a 2004, recycling aluminum, magnesium, zinc castings, cans, car parts, and scrap metal. The site includes an 11-acre area containing the former smelter, and an adjacent 26-acre waste management area where wastes were deposited.

While it operated, Halaco produced a large quantity of hazardous waste (slag), containing residual metals from the smelting process. Aproximadamente 700,000 cubic yards of waste were deposited in the waste management area, and an estimated 50,000 cubic yards are buried in the eastern side of the 11-acre area where the smelter operated. En 2007 the United States Environmental Protection Agency added Halaco to its Superfund “National Priorities List.”

Halaco’s smelter site, where the majority of the encampments exist, is currently owned by the Haack Family Trust. Another entity, Asset Resolution Management, LLC is currently leasing the smelter site. Halaco’s 26-acre slag heap portion is currently owned by Alpha and Omega Church, LLC.

Asset Resolution Management LLC has provided the City of Oxnard with “agent authorization” which provides it with authority enforce issues such as trespassing on the property.

Row of tents at Halaco site (10/19/2017)

Halaco inhabitant reads notice to vacate (10/19/2017)

Several makeshift structures at the Halaco site (10/19/2017)

Officers recovering a stolen trailer at the east side of Halaco’s former smelter site (10/19/2017)

There were dozens of vehicles and makeshift structures at the Halaco site. This is at the east side of the former smelter site (10/19/2017)