DETAILS:

A 46 year old Oxnard man was shot and killed by officers following a lengthy vehicle pursuit and crashing into several police cars. The driver of the vehicle was employed by a local propane company. He was driving a large commercial truck loaded with approximately 70 propane canisters.

The incident began after the owner of the company began receiving telephone calls from several people throughout Ventura County who were reporting that the driver of the truck was driving erratically, including driving on the wrong side of the road at high rates of speed. The owner tried to contact the driver multiple times by telephone however the calls were not answered. The owner concerned for the public’s safety notified law enforcement and asked for help in locating the vehicle.

At approximately 1245 hours, the vehicle was spotted in the west end of Oxnard. As officers attempted to pull the truck over, the driver ignored the officers and a pursuit ensued that lasted for about 15 minutes. During the pursuit, the driver was involved in a minor collision with another vehicle. A motorcycle officer was stopping traffic in an effort to prevent further collisions. As the suspect approached the motor officer, he swerved the truck towards the officer causing the officer to dive away to avoid being hit.

The truck then pulled into a busy strip mall and entered a McDonald’s parking lot located in the 300 block of South Ventura Rd where he intentionally crashed into an occupied truck in the parking lot. The driver then continued to drive erratically in the parking lot and was heading towards several police cars in the lot while continuing to accelerate. Officers fearing for their lives and the lives of the customers in the lot shot and killed the driver after he crashed into several police cars.

The name of the driver is being with-held pending the notification of next-of-kin. One Oxnard Police Officer suffered a broken arm while diving out of the way to avoid injury.

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An investigation is continuing.

DETAILS: 

On 12/20/2009 at about 0244 hours, the victim was sitting on his front porch when a black compact vehicle parked in front of his residence. Two Hispanic males and an Hispanic female began to drink alcohol and smoke marijuana. The victim confronted the subjects for drinking and smoking in front of his residence.

Two Hispanic males exited the vehicle and confronted the victim. They assaulted the victim with beer bottles and wooden posts from a nearby fence. The suspects were scared off as the victim’s wife ran outside and yelled that she had called the police.

The victim was transported to St. John’s Regional Medical Center for treatment where he remains in critical condition with serious head injuries.

An investigation is continuing. Anyone with information is asked to contact Detective Paul Knapp at 805-385-7796 or Crime Stoppers at 805-385-8255.

DETAILS: 

On 12/21/2009 at about 2143 hours, a male subject called the Oxnard Police Department through the 911 system over a cellular phone. He reported that he was drunk, armed with a shotgun and was gong to kill his wife. He gave an address of 4520 Cloyne St. in Oxnard. He then disconnected and we were unable to re-contact him.

Officers responded to the address and secured the perimeter around the apartment complex at 4520 Cloyne St. Officers made contact with each of the three apartments in the complex and interviewed the occupants. The caller was never identified and no victim was located at the scene.

A GPS location was obtained from the phone that called into the 911 center which led officers to another nearby residence. The location was checked and found to be vacant unoccupied home for sale.

DETAILS:

An attempt by Oxnard police to stop a motorist for a minor traffic infraction led to a short pursuit, crash, injury to a passenger and arrest of the driver for multiple felonies.

Officers Joe Floriano and Derek Stephens were on routine patrol when they observed a green Volvo fail to stop for a stop sign at First Street and Roosevelt Avenue. When the officers illuminated their overhead red and blue lights, the driver of the Volvo sped off and a short pursuit, lasting a total of 37 seconds, ensued.

The driver lost control of his car and collided into a fence in the 300 block of Cooper Road. The driver fled from the disabled car, leaving his injured passenger, Martina Elena Duran, 31 years, of Oxnard, behind. The driver was found hiding nearby and was taken into custody after a brief struggle with officers.

Manuel Simentel Lopez, 41 years, of Oxnard, was treated at St. John’s Regional Medical Center, for injuries sustained in the crash. Passenger Duran was also treated at St. John’s for her complaint of pain and was arrested for possession of narcotic paraphernalia and outstanding warrants.

Lopez’s charges included, felony evading, felony hit and run, driving on a suspended driver license, resisting arrest, possession of narcotic paraphernalia, being under the influence of a controlled substance and outstanding warrants.

Both subjects were booked into the Ventura County Jail. Bail for Lopez was set at $60,000.

At 1229 hours on December 17, 2009, officers from the Oxnard Police Department responded to a stabbing in the 5200 block of South J in Oxnard. Officers located a male subject who had minor stab wounds to the arm and who refused medical treatment. A short time later a female returned to the scene who had also been stabbed, also in the arm and suffered minor wounds. They told officers that they were inside one of the apartments when a third individual entered and stabbed them. The suspect is known to the victims.

Detectives are currently investigating this incident, will follow up later with additional information. Detective Knapp is the lead investigator.

DETAILS:

On 12/27/2009 at about 5:11 PM, a male subject called the Oxnard Police Department and stated his daughter had threatened him with a gun. He reported she was still inside the residence with the gun at 931 Devilfish Dr. in Oxnard. He further stated that his 16 year old grand daughter was also inside the residence.

Officers arrived at the location and made contact with the reporting person, Paul Shorter. While officers were securing the perimeter around the residence and preparing to make a phone call into the house, a shot was fired from somewhere inside the residence. Officers made entry into the house where they found the suspect, Alicia Shorter in the hallway next to the garage. She was taken into custody without incident and was not injured. The 16 year old female was found unharmed in a bedroom and later released to a relative.

The investigation revealed that Paul Shorter was in a dispute with the 31 year old female when he brandished a gun at her. His daughter, Alicia Shorter physically took the gun away from him. She then pointed the gun at him and threatened to kill him. Paul Shorter was able to flee from the residence and he contacted police.

Paul Shorter was arrested for a misdemeanor charge of brandishing a handgun at the 31 year old female. Alicia Shorter was arrested for threatening her father and brandishing a handgun.

Investigation continuing

DETAILS: 

On 12-06-09 at 9:15 p.m., Oxnard police received a call of a possible assault that occurred at the shopping center at Hemlock and Victoria. Officers located evidence of the crime in front of the abandoned grocery store in the 3700 block of West Hemlock Street.

The victim was transported by ambulance to a local hospital for treatment of minor stab wounds to the lower body.

The motive for this crime is unclear. No suspect information was provided by the victim.

Anyone with additional information is encouraged to call the Oxnard police Violent Crimes Hotline at (805) 982-7070.

An investigation is continuing.