LAW ENFORCEMENT DUI ENFORCEMENT BLITZ STARTS 17-DAY WINTER HOLIDAY EFFORT ON FRIDAY, DEC. 18, IN VENTURA COUNTY

Although they would far rather talk to sober drivers during traffic stops and at sobriety checkpoints, law enforcement officers in Ventura County expect they will arrest a few hundred of the other kind during a 17-day crackdown that begins Friday, Dec. 18.

Avoid the 14’s fourth-annual winter holiday crackdown ends at midnight on January 3, said Commander Martin Meyer of the Oxnard Police Dept., campaign chairman.

Officers and deputies brought in 470 DUI suspects during last year’s similar holiday crackdown, a five percent bump over the previous year, and 64 percent above the 2006-2007 winter numbers, Avoid the 14’s first year.

“If you drink and drive, you don’t just have the police to worry about,” said Meyer. “Think of all the drivers out there with cellular phones, just waiting to make a mobile 911 call and get us out after you.”

The enforcement blitz includes a sobriety checkpoint in Thousand Oaks on Saturday, Dec. 19, and another in Fillmore on Jan. 2.

Officers from seven cities, including Camarillo, Fillmore, Moorpark, Ojai, Oxnard, Santa Paula and Thousand Oaks will run in-city saturation patrols on the opening weekend and Christmas weekend of the crackdown.

An intense DUI task force operation is set for Saturday, Dec. 26. Task force officers will conduct a multi-agency saturation patrol in the cites of Oxnard and Ventura. California Highway Patrol freeway saturations are on the enforcement calendar for Christmas and New Year’s weekends.

No DUI deaths were reported in any of the past three winter holiday crackdowns. “That’s the best news we could have,” said Meyer. “We’re hoping for a repeat.”

“Drunk driving is simply not worth the risk. Not only do you risk killing yourself or someone else, but the trauma and financial costs of a crash or an arrest for impaired driving can be significant,” said Director Christopher J. Murphy of the California Office of Traffic Safety, which funds the campaign through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

“Violators often face jail time, the loss of their driver’s license, higher insurance rates, attorney’s fees, time away from work and dozens of other expenses. So don’t take the chance. Remember, if you are at the limit or over the limit, you are under arrest.”

INCIDENT:	Carjacking, Robbery, and Assault with a Deadly Weapon (Arrests)
DATE/TIME:	December 12, 2009 8:54 PM
LOCATION:	600 Block Guava St
VICTIM/S:	34 year-old, Oxnard resident
SUSPECT/S:	Guadalupe Celedon 27 year-old, Oxnard resident Damian Guzman 20 year-old, Oxnard resident
WITNESS/ES:	N/A
SUSPECT VEHICLE:	None
LOSS:	Taxi stolen and recovered
PREPARED BY:	Sgt Terry Burr

DETAILS:

On 12-12-09 at 8:54 PM, Officers responded to a call of an injured subject near the intersection of Guava and "G" Streets. When they arrived they located the victim suffering from several stab wounds. The victim said that two suspects had assaulted him and when he jumped out of his taxi the suspect’s drove away in it. The victim was transported to St John’s Regional Medical Center where he was later released.

Moments after the incident officers located the stolen taxi in the 600 block of West Fir Street. Two suspects were detained in the area and identified by the victim and witnesses. Both suspects were arrested for Carjacking, Robbery, and Assault with a Deadly Weapon.

Investigators are not releasing any additional information because the investigation is still being conducted.

INCIDENT:	Sobriety and Driver’s License Checkpoint
DATE/TIME:	December 11, 2009
PREPARED BY:	Senior Officer Brian Woolley

DETAILS: 

The Oxnard Police Department will begin its crackdown on DUI drivers this Holiday season by conducting a multi-location sobriety and driver’s license checkpoint on Friday, December 11, 2009, from 6:00 P.M. to 12:00 A.M. The checkpoint will be held throughout the City of Oxnard and is funded by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Tragically, 68 people died in alcohol-related motor vehicle collisions last year in California during the Holiday season. An additional 1,459 people were injured in alcohol-related collisions last year in California during last year’s winter holidays.

The Oxnard Police Department will have several DUI enforcement operations this holiday season including additional Sobriety and Driver’s License checkpoints. All of these operations are an effort to reduce the number of alcohol related crashes and to make our roadways and community safer. We also remind people that if they see an impaired driver to dial 911.

How to Report a Drunk Driver

1. Call 911 and tell them you wish to report a suspected drunk driver. **You do not have to give your name.
2. Give a complete description of the vehicle, such as make, model, color and license plate number.
3. Give the exact location of the vehicle, including the name of the road, cross streets and the direction they’re traveling.
4. Describe the manner in which the vehicle is being driven.
5. Do not try to stop the car or detain the driver. Leave that to a law enforcement officer.

For any questions related to DUI and traffic enforcement, please contact Senior Officer Brian Woolley at (805) 385-7749 or via e-mail at brianwoolley@oxnardpd.org.

By: Senior Officer Brian Woolley
Traffic Coordinator
Oxnard Police Department
(385-7749)

 

INCIDENT:	Assault with Deadly Weapon
DATE/TIME:	12-06-2009 at 9:15 p.m.
LOCATION:	Hemlock Street and Victoria Avenue, Oxnard
VICTIM/S:	16 year-old male from Port Hueneme
SUSPECT/S:	Unknown
PREPARED BY:	Tom Chronister, Commander

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.

Advisory Message has been issued by the Ventura County Sheriff’s Department.

Monday December 7, 2009 08:30 AM PST

$1,000 Reward Offered For Information Leading to Robber Who Held Up Bank Inside Albertson’s Market

Nature of Incident: Bank Robbery
Location: 541 S. Reino Road, Newbury Park, CA, 91320.
Date & Time: December 5, 2009 @ 2:35 p.m.
Unit Responsible: East County Sheriff’s Major Crimes / Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Suspect: White Male Late 50’s to early 60’s

The suspect robbed a branch of US Bank located inside an Albertson’s Market on South Reino Road on Saturday afternoon. No employees or customers were injured during the robbery. The suspect fled the bank within minutes carrying an undisclosed amount of cash. No weapon was seen, but the suspect alluded to being armed.

The investigation is being handled by the Ventura County Sheriff’s Major Crimes unit in conjunction with the FBI. Anyone with information about the identity of the suspect or his whereabouts is asked to contact Detective Jon Smith at (805) 494-8201, or Special Agent Pat Conley of the FBI at (310) 629-9553. See the attached three images of the suspect that were retrieved from the bank’s surveillance cameras.

Ventura County Crime Stoppers will pay up to $1,000 reward for information, which leads to the arrest and criminal complaint against the person(s) responsible for this crime. The caller may remain anonymous. The call is not recorded. Call Crime Stoppers at 800-222-TIPS (8477). The FBI is also offering a one-time reward under the same conditions.

For full details, go to http://local.nixle.com/alert/393542/

Contact Information:
Det. Jon R Smith
805-494-8201 

INCIDENT:	Downtown Oxnard Holiday Parade
DATE/TIME:	Saturday, December 5th, 2009 1000-1200
LOCATION:	Downtown Oxnard
PREPARED BY:	Traffic Officer Jason Coleman

DETAILS:

On Saturday, 12-5-09, the Downtown Oxnard Merchant’s Association will be hosting its annual Downtown Holiday Parade. The event will begin at 10:00 am and conclude at 12:00 pm. This will be followed by the 2009 Tamale Festival to be held in Plaza Park.

These events are expected to draw large crowds and traffic delays should be expected. The Oxnard Police Department will be handling traffic control to expedite the flow of traffic surrounding the event site. Starting at 9:00 am, all intersections on ‘C’ St from Second Street to Fifth Street, and ‘A’ St. from Fifth Street to Wooley Rd. will be closed to through traffic.

There will be “NO PARKING” signs posted on and around the parade route. The recommended parking area for persons attending the parade and other downtown events is the downtown parking structure located at Third Street @ ‘B’ Street.

These traffic flow modifications are taking place to assist in relieving the traffic congestion from this event in a timely and orderly fashion, with caution for pedestrians.

Please have a safe holiday season and enjoy watching the parade.