Archives for April 2010

John Crombach
Chief of Police

Oxnard Police Department

R. Jason Benites
Assistant Chief

Scott Whitney
Assistant Chief

OXNARD POLICE DEPARTMENT

PRESS RELEASE

INCIDENT:	Arrest of Hit and Run Fatal Collision Suspect
DATE/TIME:	Thursday, April 22, 2010 at 0940 hours
LOCATION:	Hemlock Street and M Street
VICTIM(S):	Daloris Galiney, 56 years, Resident of Oxnard
SUSPECT(S):	Clifford Bernard McLucas, 52 years, Resident of Oxnard
PREPARED BY:	Senior Officer Maria Peña, Traffic Collision Investigator

DETAILS:

On April 22, 2010, at 0940 hours, Clifford Bernard McLucas, a 52 year old resident of Oxnard, was arrested for vehicular manslaughter and felony hit and run in connection with the December 23, 2009, traffic collision death of Daloris Galiney.

The collision investigation revealed that a van, driven by McLucas, was traveling eastbound on Hemlock Street from Ventura Road. For an unknown reason, the van veered into the opposing lane of traffic and struck two parked vehicles causing the van to overturn, injuring McLucas and causing mortal injuries to his passenger, Ms. Galiney. McLucas fled the scene after the collision and was later interviewed by investigators and was determined to be the driver.

He was arrested while in custody at the Ventura County Jail on an unrelated charge.

John Crombach
Chief of Police

Oxnard Police Department

R. Jason Benites
Assistant Chief

Scott Whitney
Assistant Chief

OXNARD POLICE DEPARTMENT

PRESS RELEASE

INCIDENT:	Police Pursuit and Capture
DATE/TIME:	4/20/2010, 2302 hours
LOCATION:	Gonzales Road, Rose Ave to Patterson Road
VICTIM(S):	State of California
SUSPECT(S):	Roland Zamora, 23-years old, Oxnard Resident
WITNESS(ES):
SUSPECT VEHICLE(S):	Black Chevrolet Tahoe
LOSS:
PREPARED BY:	Sgt David Villanueva, Patrol Sgt
CONTACT PERSON & CONTACT INFO:	Sgt Randy Latimer, Traffic Sgt, 385-7650

DETAILS:

Officers observed a black Chev Tahoe at the Chevron Station where the four occupants were acting suspiciously. The occupants entered the vehicle and drove onto Gonzales Road. Officers followed the vehicle and the vehicle began to drive at a high rate of speed, exceeding the speed limit.

Officers attempted to pull over the Tahoe and the vehicle immediately fled west bound and ran several red lights. The vehicle sideswiped two unsuspecting motorist, resulting in a complaint of pain to one of the motorists. The suspect vehicle continued westbound, ran into the curbline near Patricia, and lost both front wheels.

The driver continued to drive on the rear tires only and eventually collided with a light standard at Patterson Rd, injuring all four occupants. The intoxicated driver was arrested for felony DUI, felony evading, felony hit and run, and was also found to be on parole.

John Crombach
Chief of Police

Oxnard Police Department

R. Jason Benites
Assistant Chief

Scott Whitney
Assistant Chief

OXNARD POLICE DEPARTMENT

PRESS RELEASE

INCIDENT:	Assault with a Deadly Weapon – Shooting
DATE/TIME:	4/17/2010 @ 2237 hours
LOCATION:	South Alley, 200 block of Chester Way
VICTIM(S):	Jaime Lopez, 29 years
SUSPECT(S):	Hispanic male, early 20’s
WITNESS(ES):
SUSPECT VEHICLE(S):	Black Sedan
LOSS:
PREPARED BY:	Sgt. Steven Moore
CONTACT PERSON & CONTACT INFO:	Detective Alex Arnett @ 486-6297

DETAILS:

On 04/17/10, at approximately 2237 hours, officers responded to a 911 call of a shooting victim in the 200 block of Chester Way. Upon arrival officers located the victim in a nearby apartment. The victim, Jaime Lopez, had sustained a single gunshot wound to his right knee.

Lopez reported that he was walking from his vehicle in the carports when he was confronted by the suspect in a black vehicle. During the confrontation, the suspect fired a single round, striking Lopez in the right knee. It is unknown at this time if this incident is gang related.

Anyone with information is asked to call Detective Arnett at 486-6297.

John Crombach
Chief of Police

Oxnard Police Department

R. Jason Benites
Assistant Chief

Scott Whitney
Assistant Chief

OXNARD POLICE DEPARTMENT

PRESS RELEASE

INCIDENT:	Man breaks own leg while fleeing from police
DATE/TIME:	04-17-2010 at 1030 hours
LOCATION:	600 block of Roderick Avenue
SUSPECT(S):	Baudelio Ramirez Cuevas, 25 years, of Oxnard
SUSPECT VEHICLE(S):	White 1992 Subaru Legacy station wagon
PREPARED BY:	Cmdr. Tom Chronister

DETAILS:

A man fractured his own leg while fleeing from officers in midtown Oxnard this morning.

On 4/17/10 at about 1030 hours, K-9 Officer Roger Ramirez was on routine patrol when he observed a white station wagon at a high rate of speed on “A” Street approaching Palm Drive. The car almost struck a pedestrian crossing legally at the intersection.

As the police car started to gain on the station wagon, the motorist sped up and ran the stop sign at Palm Drive and “C” Street. Officer Ramirez activated his lights and sirens; the motorist then ran the stop sign at Doris Avenue and “C” Street. The vehicle ultimately came to a stop in the 600 block of Roderick Avenue and the driver fled into residential back yards on foot. Officer Ramirez observed the motorist as he made his way across the top of a block wall; the officer then lost sight of the subject.

Officers on the perimeter located the subject lying face down in a side residential yard in the 600 block of Robert Avenue. The subject, later identified as Baudelio Cuevas, had apparently fallen off of a wall and suffered a compound fracture to his right-lower leg. Cuevas was transported by ambulance to St. John’s Regional Medical Center where he underwent surgery for the fracture. Cuevas was released on a Notice to Appear for reckless driving and an outstanding misdemeanor warrant. His vehicle was towed from the scene.

John Crombach
Chief of Police

Oxnard Police Department

R. Jason Benites
Assistant Chief

Scott Whitney
Assistant Chief

OXNARD POLICE DEPARTMENT

PRESS RELEASE

INCIDENT:	Sobriety and Drivers License Checkpoint
DATE/TIME:	April 16, 2010 1800-0030
LOCATION:	City of Oxnard
CONTACT PERSON & CONTACT INFO:	Brian Woolley, Traffic Coordinator (805) 385-7749

DETAILS:

The Oxnard Police Department Traffic Division conducted two Sobriety and Drivers License checkpoints on April 16th, 2010, from 6:00 P.M. to 12:30 A.M.

The first checkpoint was conducted in the westbound lanes of Pleasant Valley Road @ C Street.

The second checkpoint was conducted in the westbound lanes of Channel Islands Boulevard @ M Street.

Officers screened 825 motorists who passed through the checkpoints. Officers conducted two DUI investigations that lead to the arrest of one driver for DUI. This driver’s blood alcohol level was twice the legal limit of .08.

21 drivers were issued citations for various drivers license violations. 19 drivers were issued citations for driving without a valid drivers license and two drivers were cited for driving with a suspended or revoked drivers license. Seven vehicles were towed from the checkpoints.

The Oxnard Police Department will conduct several additional DUI checkpoints and DUI saturation patrols this year. These DUI 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. The checkpoints are funded by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) through the National Highway Transportation Administration.

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.

John Crombach
Chief of Police

Oxnard Police Department

R. Jason Benites
Assistant Chief

Scott Whitney
Assistant Chief

OXNARD POLICE DEPARTMENT

PRESS RELEASE

INCIDENT:	Assault with a deadly weapon
DATE/TIME:	April 14, 2010 at approximately 1840 Hours
LOCATION:	2300 Block El Dorado Avenue
VICTIM(S):	22 year old Oxnard resident
SUSPECT(S):	Hispanic male wearing all dark clothing A dark colored 4-door sedan
VICTIM VEHICLE(S):	N/A
PREPARED BY:	Senior Officer Alex Arnett

DETAILS:

On 4/14/10 at approximately 1840 hours, Oxnard police officers were dispatched to the 2300 block of El Dorado Avenue regarding a stabbing victim. When officers arrived they contacted the victim. The victim was transported to Saint John’s Hospital with superficial stab wounds and was listed in stable condition. The wounds are not life threatening.

According to the victim, he was walking in the 2300 block of El Dorado Avenue when a dark colored sedan pulled up next to him. An occupant of the vehicle contacted the victim and began to assault the victim. The occupant got back into the vehicle and was last seen fleeing the area. Investigators believe the attack was gang related.

Witnesses to the incident or anyone with information is asked to contact Detective Alex Arnett at (805) 486-6297. If you have information and wish to remain anonymous, please call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).

The investigation is ongoing.

John Crombach
Chief of Police

Oxnard Police Department

R. Jason Benites
Assistant Chief

Scott Whitney
Assistant Chief

OXNARD POLICE DEPARTMENT

PRESS RELEASE

INCIDENT:	Robbery with a handgun
DATE/TIME:	April 14, 2010 at approximately 1930 Hours
LOCATION:	1400 block of Doris Avenue
VICTIM(S):	15 year old Oxnard resident
SUSPECT(S):	Several Hispanic males unknown clothing
VICTIM VEHICLE(S):	N/A
PREPARED BY:	Senior Officer Alex Arnett

DETAILS:

On 4/14/10 at approximately 1930 hours, Oxnard police officers were dispatched to an armed robbery that occurred in the 1400 block of Doris Avenue. The victim was not injured.

The victim stated he was in the 1400 block of Doris Avenue when he was contacted by several Hispanic males. The Hispanic males demanded property from the victim. When the victim refused to hand over his property the one of the suspects brandished a firearm. The suspects took the property and then fled.

Witnesses to the incident or anyone with information is asked to contact Detective Roger Garcia at (805) 385-7688. If you have information and wish to remain anonymous, please call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).

The investigation is ongoing.

John Crombach
Chief of Police

Oxnard Police Department

R. Jason Benites
Assistant Chief

Scott Whitney
Assistant Chief

OXNARD POLICE DEPARTMENT

PRESS RELEASE

INCIDENT:	Sobriety and Drivers License Checkpoint
DATE/TIME:	April 16th, 2010 1800-0200
LOCATION:	City of Oxnard
CONTACT PERSON & CONTACT INFO:	Brian Woolley, Traffic Coordinator (805) 385-7749

DETAILS:

As the California Office of Traffic Safety has named 2010, “The Year of the Checkpoint,” the Oxnard Police Department will conduct another multi-location sobriety and drivers license checkpoint Friday night, April 16th, from 6:00 P.M. to 2:00 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.

In 2009, the Oxnard Police Department made over 950 DUI arrests and investigated over 240 DUI related crashes in the City of Oxnard. Of those 240 collisions, five of them involved a fatality where one of the drivers was driving under the influence of alcohol. 80 of them were injury collisions where over 120 people suffered injuries as a result of a DUI driver. In addition, the Oxnard Police Department investigated a total of 2,195 collisions in 2009. Of those crashes, 621 of them involved a driver who was unlicensed or driving with a suspended drivers license.

So far this year, the Oxnard Police Department has arrested over 275 DUI drivers.

The Oxnard Police Department is committed to improving traffic safety and will continue to conduct these checkpoints and DUI enforcement operations in 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. Please buckle up, driver sober, and drive safely!

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.

John Crombach
Chief of Police

Oxnard Police Department

R. Jason Benites
Assistant Chief

Scott Whitney
Assistant Chief

OXNARD POLICE DEPARTMENT

PRESS RELEASE

INCIDENT:	Vehicle pursuit and gang members in possession of firearm
DATE/TIME:	April 12, 2010/1600 hours
LOCATION:	Channel Islands Blvd and Ventura Road
VICTIM(S):	None
SUSPECT(S):	Manuel Cortez, 26 year old male, Oxnard resident Eric Hartman, 31 year old male, Oxnard resident
WITNESS(ES):
VICTIM VEHICLE(S):	N/A
LOSS:
PREPARED BY:	Sergeant Bill Crisostomo
CONTACT PERSON & CONTACT INFO:

DETAILS:

On April 12, 2010 at approximately 1600 hours, Officers from the Oxnard Police Department Special Enforcement Unit attempted to conduct a traffic stop on a 2007 silver Pontiac Vibe in the area of Ventura Road and Channel Islands Blvd. The driver, Manuel Cortez failed to yield and a vehicle pursuit ensued. At the termination of the pursuit, Cortez and a male passenger, Eric Hartman, fled from the vehicle on foot. As they fled they discarded a loaded 9mm machine pistol. Hartman was taken into custody after a brief foot chase and Cortez was taken into custody after being found in hiding in a trashcan during an area search.

Eric Hartman was arrested for possession of weapon, resisting arrest and violation of the gang injunction. Manuel Cortez was arrested for felony vehicle evasion, being under the influence of a controlled substance and violation of parole.

Both subjects are gang members and were later booked into the Ventura County Jail.

John Crombach
Chief of Police

Oxnard Police Department

R. Jason Benites
Assistant Chief

Scott Whitney
Assistant Chief

OXNARD POLICE DEPARTMENT

PRESS RELEASE

INCIDENT:	Oxnard Police Department Employee Recognition Awards Luncheon
DATE/TIME:	Thursday, April 22, 2010 at 12:00 P.M.
LOCATION:	Courtyard by Marriott, 600 Esplanade Drive, Oxnard
AWARDS PRESENTED:	Police Officer of the Year Civilian Employee of the Year Supervisor of the Year M.A.D.D. Award Dispatcher of the Year 10851 Awards Chief’s Award of Excellence Volunteer of the Year
PREPARED BY:	Commander Scott Hebert
CONTACT PERSON & CONTACT INFO:	Commander Scott Hebert at ScottHebert@OxnardPD.org or (805) 385-8290

DETAILS:

The Kiwanis Club of Oxnard is pleased to once again host the Oxnard Police Department Employee Recognition Awards Luncheon at 12:00 P.M. on Thursday, April 22, 2010. The public is invited but reservations for the event are required. Tickets are $25 per person and can be paid for at the door. Space is limited! To reserve your seat, please call Danah Palmer at (805) 385-7784 or danahpalmer@oxnardpd.org.

During this ceremony, Oxnard’s 42nd Police Officer of the Year will be announced. The nominees are:

Officer Raymund Mosones
Senior Officer Brian P. Woolley
Senior Officer Ricardo Vazquez
Officer Andrew Pinkstaff

The criteria for Oxnard Police Officer of the Year are:

Rank of Police Officer II or Senior Police Officer.
Performance of duties in an exemplary fashion.
Strong academic credentials or evidence of an earnest effort to obtain a higher degree.
Activity beyond the normal scope of duty; voluntarily engaging in the community affairs of Oxnard is a significant way.

OXNARD POLICE DEPARTMENT EMPLOYEE RECOGNITION AWARDS
In addition to naming Oxnard’s Police Officer of the Year for 2009, Oxnard police Chief John Crombach will present the following awards to police department employees for exemplary service:

2009 Supervisor of the Year
2009 Civilian Employee of the Year
2009 Mothers Against Drunk Driving (M.A.D.D.) Award
2009 Dispatcher of the Year
2009 Chief’s Award of Excellencev
Volunteer of the Year (Clancy Nieland Award)
10851 Award (in recognition of stolen vehicle recovery efforts in 2009, presented by the California Highway Patrol and the Automobile Club of Southern California)

PRESS NOTE: The Kiwanis will host one representative from each media outlet for lunch during the awards ceremony. Please contact Danah Palmer to RSVP.

Questions regarding the awards luncheon should be directed to Commander Scott Hebert at ScottHebert@OxnardPD.org or (805) 385-8290.