John Crombach Chief of Police

Oxnard Police Department R. Jason Benites Assistant Chief Scott Whitney Assistant Chief

OXNARD POLICE DEPARTMENT

PRESS RELEASE

DETAILS:

On the above date and time the Ventura County Sheriff’s Department requested the assistance of the Oxnard Police Department regarding a man with a gun banging on doors at the above location. Several Patrol officers and officers from the Special Enforcement Unit were dispatched code three (lights and sirens) to the location.

Upon arrival officers observed the above suspect armed with a handgun at the location. He was non compliant with officer’s commands, and barricaded himself inside a vehicle. Additional officers responded to the location where containment was set and evacuations were conducted.

Crisis Intervention Team officers attempted to talk the suspect out of the vehicle for approximately two hours until the Sheriff’s Department Special Weapons and Tactics Team arrived. The incident was handed over to the Sheriff’s Department shortly after, and all Oxnard Police Department officers cleared the scene.

At approximately 2300 hours the Sheriff’s Department notified the Oxnard Police Department that the suspect was taken into custody. A loaded handgun was found inside the vehicle.

All further inquiries should be directed towards the Ventura County Sheriff’s Department where an investigation is continuing.

John Crombach Chief of Police

Oxnard Police Department R. Jason Benites Assistant Chief Scott Whitney Assistant Chief

OXNARD POLICE DEPARTMENT

PRESS RELEASE

DETAILS:

On Monday July 5, 2010 at about 5:17 PM, Officer’s Phil Flores and Roque Rivera of the Oxnard Police Department were working a two-person patrol unit. They observed a silver 2006 Nissan Maxima commit a traffic violation in the area of Wooley Road and A Street. Officer’s Flores and Rivera attempted a traffic enforcement stop on the Nissan. The Nissan, later found to be driven by Ricky Allen Ritter, failed to yield to the police officers and a pursuit ensued through several streets in Oxnard.

While officers were still in pursuit of the Nissan, Ritter drove westbound on Hemlock Street towards a red light at Patterson Road. At the intersection of Hemlock Street and Patterson Road; the Nissan failed to stop for the red light and broadsided a white 2010 Dodge Caravan driven by Edgar Vargara.

After the collision, Suspect Ritter fled the scene and was arrested without incident in a nearby apartment complex. Suspect Ritter was not injured as a result of the collision.

Mr. Vargara was transported to St. John’s Hospital for further treatment. Mr. Vargara injuries include an abrasion to the right abdomen, bleeding from his mouth, complaint of pain to his head and abdomen.

Suspect Ritter was subsequently arrested for felony evading, felony hit and run, felony grand theft auto, driving while under the influence of drugs or alcohol, possession of burglary tools, and, possession of drug paraphernalia.

The Oxnard Police Department is requesting the assistance of the public. If you witnessed the collision or have any information regarding this collision please contact the Traffic Investigator, Senior Officer Maria Peña at 805-385-7750.

An investigation is continuing.

John Crombach Chief of Police

Oxnard Police Department R. Jason Benites Assistant Chief Scott Whitney Assistant Chief

OXNARD POLICE DEPARTMENT

PRESS RELEASE

DETAILS:

DURING THE FIRST HALF OF THE YEAR THE OXNARD POLICE DEPARTMENT RECEIVED NUMEROUS CALLS FOR SERVICE INVOLVING THE THEFT OF MONEY FROM COIN OPERATED LAUNDRY MACHINES. THE MAJORITY OF THE REPORTED CASES WERE RECEIVED FROM APARTMENT COMPLEX’S THAT OFFER LAUNDRY ROOM FACILITIES.

THE MAJORITY OF THE THEFT’S OCCURRED AT NIGHT AND LITTLE TO NO EVIDENCE HAS BEEN RECOVERED FROM THESE THEFTS. INVESTIGATORS HAVE SEVERAL POSSIBLE SUSPECT LEADS, BUT ARE STILL SEEKING THE PUBLIC’S ASSISTANCE TO IDENTIFY ALL THOSE INVOLVED.

INVESTIGATORS FROM THE OXNARD POLICE DEPARTMENT ARE REQUESTING THAT THE OWNERS OR THOSE RESPONSIBLE FOR COIN OPERATED LAUNDRY MACHINES TAKE EXTRA MEASURES TO BETTER SECURE THEIR FACILITIES. INVESTIGATORS SUGGEST THAT MONEY FROM THE MACHINES BE REMOVED DAILY, LAUNDRY ROOMS SHOULD BE LOCKED AND ACCESS BE PROVIDED TO TENANTS ONLY, SET UP SURVEILLANCE CAMERA’S AND TO CONSIDER INSTALLING NEW TECHNOLOGIES SUCH AS CASHLESS SYSTEMS THAT USE WHAT IS COMMONLY REFERRED TO AS A PREPAID CARD.

INVESTIGATORS ARE SEEKING INFORMATION FROM THE PUBLIC THAT MAY LEAD TO THE ARREST OF THE PERSON OR PERSON’S INVOLVED IN THE THEFTS. ANYONE WITH INFORMATION IS URGED TO CALL THE OXNARD POLICE DEPARTMENT PROPERTY CRIMES BUREAU AT 385-7605 OR DETECTIVE LUIS MANCHA AT 385-7664.

John Crombach Chief of Police

Oxnard Police Department R. Jason Benites Assistant Chief Scott Whitney Assistant Chief

OXNARD POLICE DEPARTMENT

PRESS RELEASE

DETAILS:

On 7-13-10 at around 8:00 PM Officers responded to a stabbing victim at Sierra Park located at Lantana and Indigo. Upon officers arrival they found the victim had been transported by private vehicle to the hospital. Officers responded to Saint John’s Regional Medical Center where the victim was being treated for a single stab wound to the back. The victim is listed in serious but stable condition.

He told investigators that he was in the park when a fight ensued, during the fight he was stabbed for no apparent reason. He stated the suspect fled the area on foot prior to officers arriving. The victims name is being withheld because the investigators feel the incident is gang related. The victim had ties to an Oxnard gang prior to the assault. If anyone has information about this incident you are asked to contact Det. Mike Marostica at (805) 486-6228 or email him at mikemarostica@oxnardpd.org. You can remain anonymous by contacting Ventura Crime Stoppers at (800) 222-TIPS.

John Crombach Chief of Police

Oxnard Police Department R. Jason Benites Assistant Chief Scott Whitney Assistant Chief

OXNARD POLICE DEPARTMENT

PRESS RELEASE

DETAILS:

The Oxnard Police Department Traffic Unit will be conducting a multi-location sobriety and driver’s license checkpoint on Friday, July 30th, 2010, from 6:00 P.M. to midnight. 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.

From the beginning of 2010, the Oxnard Police Department has arrested over 545 drivers for DUI. We have also investigated over 125 collisions that involved a DUI driver with 45 of them involving injuries. As a reminder, the total cost for a first time DUI conviction in Ventura County is over $10,000.

Officers from the Oxnard Police Department will be conducting more DUI enforcement operations over the summer months including checkpoints and several saturation patrols. The Oxnard Police Department remains committed to its no-tolerance approach to DUI drivers. These DUI operations are part of our 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.

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

DETAILS:

On 7-27-10, at approximately 5:32 P.M., officers were dispatched to Farmacia Estrella “Star Pharmacy” located at 5020 South “C” St. reference an armed robbery. Officers discovered two subjects entered the pharmacy and immediately went behind the counter. The suspects ordered the owner to open up the cabinets containing different medications. The suspects wore unknown colored bandanas that covered their face, hooded sweatshirts, and gloves.

The suspects took an unknown amount of medication and fled the store. Witnesses observed the suspects run across the street and got into a Tan or light brown vehicle. The suspect vehicle drove away northbound on “C” St. from Pleasant Valley Rd. There was no description of the suspect driver.

Anyone with information regarding this robbery is asked to contact Detective Steven Funk at 805-385-7796 or you may leave a message on the Violent Crimes Hotline at 805-982-7070. To give an anonymous tip, call Crime Stoppers at 800-222-TIPS (8477).

John Crombach Chief of Police

Oxnard Police Department R. Jason Benites Assistant Chief Scott Whitney Assistant Chief

OXNARD POLICE DEPARTMENT

PRESS RELEASE

DETAILS:

On 7-5-10, at approximately 1923 hours, officers responded to the 1300-blk of West Birch Street reference contacting a victim of a shooting.

Upon arrival, officers contacted the victim who told officers he was riding his skateboard in the neighborhood when he was confronted by a group of males. One of these males, later identified as the suspect, made a comment to the victim about his skateboard. The victim ignored the suspect and he rode his skateboard home.

When the victim arrived home, he noticed the suspect had followed him home. The suspect then began a verbal dispute with the victim. The suspect eventually displayed a firearm and fired one shot missing the victim. The suspect then fled the scene on foot in an unknown direction.

Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to contact Detective Edward Baldwin at 805-486-7386 or you may leave a message on the Violent Crimes Hotline at 805-982-7070. To give an anonymous tip, call Crime Stoppers at 800-222-TIPS (8477).

The name of the victim is being withheld due to the victim being a juvenile and the suspect possibly being associated with a gang.

An investigation is continuing.

John Crombach Chief of Police

Oxnard Police Department R. Jason Benites Assistant Chief Scott Whitney Assistant Chief

OXNARD POLICE DEPARTMENT

PRESS RELEASE

DETAILS:

Oxnard Police located an unoccupied stolen vehicle in the area of Jasmine and Elder Streets in Oxnard. The vehicle was a White Ford Edge stolen from the City of Camarillo during a residential burglary that occurred on 7-12-10. At about 4:00 PM today the suspect, later identified as Conrad Moraga, entered the stolen vehicle and drove off. A traffic stop was attempted, however Moraga led officers on a high-speed pursuit lasting about 22 minutes. Moraga drove recklessly to the City of Ventura before returning to Oxnard. The Sheriff’s helicopter was requested and arrived in time to assist with the pursuit. The pursuit ended at Gonzales and Lantana Streets in Oxnard when Moraga collided with another vehicle. He attempted to flee on foot but was apprehended at the collision scene.

There were a total of 8 collisions which occurred in several jurisdictions during the pursuit resulting in one person reporting a complaint of pain type injury. One police car was damaged as a result of one non-injury collision. The suspect was also slightly injured and taken to the emergency room prior to being booked at Ventura County Jail for felony evading, felony hit & run, parole violation and stolen vehicle possession. Anyone with information reference Moraga’s involvement in residential burglaries or stolen vehicles may call detective Pat Dolan at 385-7755.