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OXNARD POLICE DEPARTMENT
NEWS RELEASE
| INCIDENT: | Report Illegal Firearms Possession |
| DATE/TIME: | Tuesday, September 11, 2018 |
| LOCATION: | Citywide |
| PREPARED BY: | Sergeant Marc Amon |
| CONTACT PERSON AND CONTACT INFO: | Sergeant Marc Amon, Crime Reduction Unit
Marc.amon@oxnardpd.org or 805-678-0319 |
DETAILS:
Since May of 2017, the Oxnard Police Department and Ventura County Crime Stoppers have collaborated to help stop gun violence by partnering with the community. Crime Stoppers has arranged for community members with information about persons illegally in possession of guns to submit tips anonymously for a cash reward.
On September 5, 2018, at approximately 9:56 PM, officers responded to the 2200 block of Celsius Avenue in reference to an On-Star alert regarding a stolen black 2018 GMC Canyon. Officers arrived on scene and observed a female, Marisela Suarez, taking property from a business and placing it into the stolen vehicle. The driver, Gustavo Aguilar, and passenger, Gabriel Enriquez, were in the business parking lot and fled on foot. Additional officers responded and conducted a search. Neither suspect was located. A loaded 12 gauge shotgun was recovered from the vehicle. Suarez was arrested for an outstanding warrant.
On September 6, 2018, at approximately 12:50 PM, officers responded to a possible domestic incident at Lawnwood Way and Dover Streets. A white Nissan Altima occupied by three males was associated with the incident. Officers located a white Nissan Altima parked at “F” Street and Lawnwood Way, occupied by three subjects. Officers contacted the occupants and found the driver, Gustavo Aguilar, was on parole for felon in possession of ammunition. Aguilar is also a documented gang member in the City of Oxnard. The other two occupants, Mario Sanchez and Jordano Franco, were on probation. During a search, officers located a .25 caliber firearm in the vehicle, as well as a substance suspected to be methamphetamine. Aguilar was arrested for numerous firearm charges including being a felon in possession of a firearm, a felony. Sanchez and Franco were arrested for drug-related charges.
On September 6, 2018, at approximately 9:50 PM, officers in the Special Enforcement Unit conducted an enforcement stop on a vehicle for a traffic violation at Anchor Avenue and Crossjack Street in Port Hueneme. Christopher Stevens, a passenger in the vehicle, was on probation for felon in possession of ammunition. During a search of Stevens, officers located a loaded .45 caliber handgun and over four ounces of methamphetamine. Stevens is a documented gang member in the City of Oxnard, a convicted felon that has been previously released under California Assembly Bill 109, and has prior convictions for firearms possession and ammunition possession. Stevens was arrested for numerous firearm-related violations as well as possession of methamphetamine for sale.
On September 7, 2018, at approximately 9:00 PM, officers stopped a vehicle in the 1800 block of Claremont Avenue for vehicle code violations. The driver was identified as Emilio Torres along with an adult passenger and a seventeen-year-old juvenile passenger. The juvenile was on probation for possession of firearms with search terms. Officers searched the vehicle and located a loaded .380 firearm in the vehicle. Torres admitted to possessing the firearm and was arrested for firearms charges. The juvenile was cited for a probation violation.
On September 7, 2018, at approximately 9:15 PM, officers in the Special Enforcement Unit stopped a vehicle in the area of San Mateo at DuPont Avenue for a traffic violation. Officers detected an odor of alcohol from the vehicle. Several documented gang members were contacted in the vehicle. Two of the occupants, Jorge Garcia and Francisco Suarez, admitted to possessing open containers of alcohol. Officers searched the vehicle. A loaded .45 caliber handgun was located in the vehicle. Suarez was arrested for several firearm-related charges. Garcia was arrested for possession of an alcohol container in a vehicle.
On September 8, 2018 ,at approximately 12:38 AM, officers in the Special Enforcement Unit stopped a vehicle in the 1000 block of Evanston Place. The driver, Jesus Villafana, was on probation with search terms. Officers conducted a search of the vehicle. A passenger, Cristobal Gonzalez, admitted to possessing a firearm. Officers located a loaded .357 revolver in Gonzalez’s possession. Villafana and Gonzalez are documented gang members in the City of Oxnard. Gonzalez was arrested for numerous firearms violations.
On September 9, 2018, at approximately 2:49 PM, officers conducted a traffic stop for a vehicle code violation in the 100 block of Princeton Avenue. Officers contacted the driver, Rafael Martinez, who told officers he had a handgun in his vehicle. During a search officers located a firearm concealed in the vehicle. Martinez was arrested for several firearm-related charges.
The Oxnard Police Department is committed to reducing gun violence through public education and enforcement. As always, we continue to encourage residents to be “Partners in Public Safety” and anyone with information regarding criminal activity is encouraged to contact the Oxnard Police Department at (805) 385-7600 or in case of an emergency, dial 9-1-1.
How can you report an illegal firearm possession?
Contact Crime Stoppers by phone at 1-800-222-TIPS (1-800-222-8477), Text “BUSTED” plus your message to CRIMES (274637) or visit their website at http://www.venturacountycrimestoppers.org/. Remember to mention the code “OPDGUNS” to make sure your tip is routed directly to the Oxnard Police Department “Break the Silence! Stop Gun Violence!” Program. You can also visit www.OxnardPD.org and click the Crime Stoppers tab on the home page or call the Gun and Gang Hotline at (805) 982-7043.
DATE / TIME PREPARED: September 11, 2018 / 1549 Hours