Archives for February 2014

Jeri Williams
Chief of Police

Oxnard Police Department

R. Jason Benites
Assistant Chief

Scott Whitney
Assistant Chief

OXNARD POLICE DEPARTMENT

NEWS RELEASE

INCIDENT:	Shooting Victims / Homicide
DATE/TIME:	2/17/14; 1838 hours
LOCATION:	2000 Block of Mariposa Street
VICTIM(S):	2 males; identities being withheld pending notification
SUSPECT(S):	Unknown



PREPARED BY:	Sergeant Christopher Williams, (805) 385-7763 christopher.williams@oxnardpd.org
CONTACT PERSON & CONTACT INFO:	Detective Miguel Serrato, (805) 385-7688 Miguel.Serrato@oxnardpd.org

DETAILS:
On 2/17/14 at about 1838 hours, officers responded to the 2000 Block of Mariposa Street regarding a call of shots fired. When officers arrived they located two male shooting victims. One subject, an 18 year old male was transported to a local hospital where he underwent surgery and is listed in stable condition. A second male subject was also located with a gunshot wound; despite emergency responders’ efforts to save the subject, he died as a result of his injuries.

At this time investigators don’t know the motive and are attempting to establish what occurred. The City of Oxnard offers a $10,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of suspect(s) in homicide cases.

Investigators are encouraging anyone with information about this incident to contact Detective Miguel Serrato at (805) 385-7688. If you wish to remain anonymous you can call the Violent Crimes Hotline at (805) 982-7070 or Ventura County Crime Stoppers at (800) 222-8477. You can also visit www.venturacountycrimestoppers.org to submit a tip via text or email.

DATE / TIME PREPARED: 2/17/14; 2320 Hours

Jeri Williams
Chief of Police

Oxnard Police Department

R. Jason Benites
Assistant Chief

Scott Whitney
Assistant Chief

OXNARD POLICE DEPARTMENT

NEWS RELEASE

INCIDENT:	Missing Adult
DATE/TIME:	2/7/14; 1300 hours
LOCATION:	5100 Block of Jefferson Square, Oxnard
MISSING PERSON:	Jose Magdaleno Tamayo




PREPARED BY:	Kevin Baysinger, Commander
CONTACT PERSON & CONTACT INFO:	Oxnard Police/Fire Communications Center 385-7740

DETAILS:

On February 7 at about 2230 hours, officers from the Oxnard Police Department responded to the 5100 Block of Jefferson Square regarding 62 year old missing person Jose Magdaleno Tamayo. Officers learned that Tamayo was last seen around 1300 hours; it was believed that he was picked up and transported to a location in Oxnard for a regularly scheduled medical procedure. Tamayo has not returned home.

Officers have checked locations where Tamayo may be at but have been unable to locate him. Anyone with any information regarding his whereabouts is asked to call the Oxnard Police Communications Center at 385-7740.

DATE / TIME PREPARED: February 8, 2014; 0050 hours

Jeri Williams
Chief of Police

Oxnard Police Department

R. Jason Benites
Assistant Chief

Scott Whitney
Assistant Chief

OXNARD POLICE DEPARTMENT

NEWS RELEASE

INCIDENT:	Shooting Victim
DATE/TIME:	2/10/14, 2115 hours
LOCATION:	1000 Block of West Gonzalez Road
VICTIM(S):	20 year old male
SUSPECT(S):	Unknown

SUSPECT VEHICLE(S):	Dark Colored Vehicle

PREPARED BY:	Kevin Baysinger, Commander
CONTACT PERSON & CONTACT INFO:	Oxnard Police Communcations 385-7740

DETAILS:
On 2-10-14, at approximately 2115 hours, officers from the Oxnard Police Department responded to the report of shots fired in the 1000 Block of West Gonzalez Road. Officers were initially unable to locate any involved persons, or evidence of a shooting.

A short time later, a shooting victim (20 year old male) arrived at St. John’s Hospital. This victim suffered a non-life threatening wound to his leg. Officers learned this victim was shot in the area of the original call of shots fired. Officers were able to locate evidence of a shooting in the area of 1001 W. Gonzalez Road.

The suspects were believed to be in a dark colored vehicle. There was no further description about the suspects.

Persons with information regarding this crime are encouraged to contact the Oxnard Police Department at 385-7740. If someone wishes to remain anonymous, they can call the Violent Crimes Hotline at (805) 982-7070 or the Ventura County Crime Stoppers at (800) 222-8477 and www.venturacountycrimestoppers.org/contactus.aspx to submit a tip via text or e-mail.

DATE / TIME PREPARED: 2/10/2014 2255 hrs.

Jeri Williams
Chief of Police

Oxnard Police Department

R. Jason Benites
Assistant Chief

Scott Whitney
Assistant Chief

OXNARD POLICE DEPARTMENT

NEWS RELEASE

INCIDENT:	Fatal Traffic Collision
DATE/TIME:	February 5, 2014 / 0758 hours
LOCATION:	Ansgar Larsen School, 550 Thomas Avenue
Party 1:	Harold Hutton Jr., 43 years, Oxnard Resident
Party 2:	Male, 2 years, (name withheld)
VEHICLE(S):	Blue, 2004 Mitsubishi Montero, sport utility vehicle
PREPARED BY:	Brian Woolley, Traffic Sergeant
CONTACT PERSON & CONTACT INFO:	Senior Officer Maria Peña (805) 385-7750 maria.pena@oxnardpd.org

DETAILS: On February 5, 2014, at about 7:58 A.M., officers and EMS personnel responded to Ansgar Larsen School, located at 550 Thomas Avenue, in reference to an injury traffic collision involving a vehicle and a pedestrian. When officers arrived on scene, they discovered that a two year-old child had been struck by a vehicle in the school’s parking lot.

Preliminary investigation indicates that the Mitsubishi Montero was traveling through the parking lot of the school when its right side struck the unattended child who was crossing its path.

Medical personnel arrived on scene and rushed the child to the Ventura County Medical Center where he was pronounced dead.

The driver of the Mitsubishi, Harold Hutton Jr., was uninjured as a result of the collision.

Speed, alcohol and drugs were not a factor in this collision.

If anyone has information about this collision, please contact Senior Officer Maria Peña at (805) 385-7750.

The investigation is on-going.

DATE / TIME PREPARED: February 5, 2014 at 1200 hours

Jeri Williams
Chief of Police

Oxnard Police Department

R. Jason Benites
Assistant Chief

Scott Whitney
Assistant Chief

OXNARD POLICE DEPARTMENT

NEWS RELEASE

INCIDENT:	Suicidal Subject and Officer-Involved Shooting
DATE/TIME:	Wednesday, 2/5/14 at approximately 12:25 PM
LOCATION:	Del Sol Park (Rose Avenue and Camino Del Sol – City of Oxnard)
INVOLVED PERSON:	42 year-old female Oxnard resident (name withheld)
PREPARED BY:	Miguel Lopez, Community Affairs Manager
CONTACT PERSON & CONTACT INFO:	Detective Jeff Kay (805) 385-8174 Jeff.Kay@oxnardpd.org

DETAILS: At approximately 12:22 PM on Wednesday, 2/5/14, the Oxnard Police Department’s Emergency Communications Center received a call from Ventura County Behavioral Health. The staff member reported that a 42 year-old woman called Behavioral Health and said that she was going to commit suicide. The female said that she was at Del Sol Park with a loaded handgun, and that she was going to kill herself.

Oxnard police officers were dispatched to respond to this call. The primary officers who responded had previously attended Crisis Intervention Training (CIT). CIT training is designed to assist officers in de-escalating potentially dangerous situations with persons suffering from mental illness.

Officers made contact with the woman in the park, and attempted to gain her cooperation. The officers indicated over the police radio that the woman had a handgun, and was non-compliant.

Preliminary information indicates that shortly after the officers contacted her, the woman raised the handgun and pointed it at the officers. Two officers fired their service weapons.

The woman was struck by gunfire. No officers were injured. Officers immediately requested that emergency medical services respond. The woman was transported to a local hospital for treatment of her injuries.

The involved officers have been placed on administrative leave, which is standard procedure.

At the time of this release, the investigation is underway, and investigators are still on scene. An update news release will be issued tomorrow (Thursday 2/6/2014).

Persons who have information about this incident are encouraged to call Detective Jeff Kay at (805) 385-8174.

DATE / TIME PREPARED: 2/5/14 7:30 PM

Jeri Williams
Chief of Police

Oxnard Police Department

R. Jason Benites
Assistant Chief

Scott Whitney
Assistant Chief

OXNARD POLICE DEPARTMENT

NEWS RELEASE

INCIDENT:	Arson Arrest
DATE/TIME:	2/16/14; 1720 hours
LOCATION:	1100 Block of Mercantile Street
VICTIM(S):	60 year old female
SUSPECT(S):	Claudia Mendoza, 42 year old Oxnard Resident



PREPARED BY:	Kevin Baysinger, Commander
CONTACT PERSON & CONTACT INFO:	Oxnard Police Communications 805-385-7740

DETAILS:
On 2/16/14 at about 1720 hours, the Oxnard Fire Department and the Oxnard Police Department responded to a vehicle fire in the 1200 Block of Mercantile Street. Once on scene, Police and Fire personnel learned that this was part of a dispute between the victim and the suspect, Mendoza. Mendoza had lit the tent of the victim on fire, and the fire spread to an adjacent vehicle. Witnesses pointed out Mendoza to responding officers. The officers contacted Mendoza, and found evidence on her which was related to the crime.

Mendoza was arrested for an outstanding warrant as well as 451(b)PC, Arson of an Inhabited Structure or Property. The victim was not injured.

Persons with information regarding this crime are encouraged to contact the Oxnard Police Department at 385-7740.

DATE / TIME PREPARED: 2/16/2014 2320 hrs.

Jeri Williams
Chief of Police

Oxnard Police Department

R. Jason Benites
Assistant Chief

Scott Whitney
Assistant Chief

OXNARD POLICE DEPARTMENT

NEWS RELEASE

INCIDENT:	Vehicle burglary with arrests
DATE/TIME:	March 1, 2014, 04:05 AM
LOCATION:	1700 Block Fisher Drive
VICTIM(S):	Oxnard Resident
SUSPECT(S):	Miguel Viveros, 31 years, Oxnard resident Alejandro Ramuco, 22 years, Oxnard resident
VICTIM VEHICLE:	2010 Hyundai Accent
PREPARED BY:	David Walker, Sergeant
CONTACT PERSON & CONTACT INFO:	Oxnard Police Communications 805-385-7740

DETAILS:
On 03/1/14 at approximately 0405 hours, officers from the Oxnard Police Department responded to the 1700 block of Fisher Drive reference suspicious subjects possibly casing for vehicle burglary. The reporting party was a neighbor who called the police after observing the suspects sitting in a vehicle using flashlights. Officers arrived and apprehended the suspects, Miguel Viveros (31 years) and Alejandro Ramuco (22 years), as they attempted to flee. The suspects had ransacked the victim vehicle and removed property from it.

The Oxnard Police Department encourages residents to be partners in public safety as part of the Operation Safer and Stronger initiative. This is an excellent example of a neighbor who saw suspicious activity, called the police, and provided the appropriate information.

If anyone has more information on this incident, you are encouraged to contact the Oxnard Police Department at 385-7600. If someone wishes to remain anonymous, they can call the Violent Crimes Hotline at (805) 982-7070 or the Ventura County Crime Stoppers at (800) 222-8477 and www.venturacountycrimestoppers.org/contactus.aspx to submit a tip via text or e-mail.

DATE / TIME PREPARED: 03/1/14, 0530 hours

Jeri Williams
Chief of Police

Oxnard Police Department

R. Jason Benites
Assistant Chief

Scott Whitney
Assistant Chief

OXNARD POLICE DEPARTMENT

NEWS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE   CONTACT: Commander Mike Adair
February 24, 2014    mike.adair@oxnardpd.org
  (805) 385-7801

(Oxnard, CA) The Oxnard Police Department is releasing the names of the officers who responded to Del Sol Park in Oxnard on February 5, 2014. The call involved 42-year-old Oxnard resident Rosa Guillen who was in possession of a handgun and had threatened suicide. Guillen had been at Ventura County Medical Center receiving medical treatment for a gunshot wound suffered during the event involving the officers.

Guillen was arrested Friday, February 21, 2014 for violation of section 417.4 of the California Penal Code – Brandishing a Replica Firearm. Guillen was booked into Ventura County Main Jail on this charge and an additional charge of Violation of Probation.

The Oxnard Police officers involved (all assigned to Patrol) are as follows:

Senior Officer Roger Garcia, 7 years of service
Officer Hector Balderrama, 16 years of service
Officer David Landsverk, 16 years of service

Anyone with additional information about this incident is asked to contact Senior Officer Jeff Kay at (805) 385-8174.

###

Jeri Williams
Chief of Police

Oxnard Police Department

R. Jason Benites
Assistant Chief

Scott Whitney
Assistant Chief

OXNARD POLICE DEPARTMENT

NEWS RELEASE

INCIDENT:	Residential Burglary Suspect Arrested
DATE/TIME:	February 20, 2014 / 1515 hours
LOCATION:	1300 Block W. Kamala St.
VICTIM(S):	Multiple Residences
SUSPECT(S):	Miguel Santillan, 19 year old Oxnard Resident
PREPARED BY:	Officer Michael Gens
CONTACT PERSON & CONTACT INFO:	Commander Randy Latimer (805) 385-7600

DETAILS:
On 2/20/14, at approximately 1515 hours, officers from the Oxnard Police Department were dispatched to a residential burglary in progress in the 1300 block of W. Kamala St. Officers arrived on scene and found that the suspect, Miguel Santillan, was being detained by a resident and one of the burglary victims.

An investigation revealed that Santillan entered a residence through a doggy door. He was confronted by the resident and fled into another house across the street. Once inside the second residence, he was again detained and held until officers arrived.

Santillan was found to be in possession of property that had been taken from the residences. He was arrested for suspicion of residential burglary and booked into the Ventura County Jail. The property was returned to the owners.

Jeri Williams
Chief of Police

Oxnard Police Department

R. Jason Benites
Assistant Chief

Scott Whitney
Assistant Chief

OXNARD POLICE DEPARTMENT

NEWS RELEASE

INCIDENT:	Oxnard shows an increase 2013 FBI Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) data
DATE/TIME:	AY 2013
LOCATION:	Citywide
PREPARED BY:	Miguel Lopez, Community Affairs Manager
CONTACT PERSON & CONTACT INFO:	Commander Mike Adair mike.adair@oxnardpd.org (805) 385-7801

DETAILS: The FBI gathers crime statistics from law enforcement agencies each year as part of their Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) Program. The UCR Program collects data on four violent crimes and four property crimes. The purpose of the program is to generate a reliable set of crime statistics for use by law enforcement. The Oxnard Police Department is a participating UCR agency and believes it is important to share the crime data with our residents.

The City of Oxnard experienced an increase in reported crime in 2013. Reported crime began to rise in 2012 and has continued on this trend through 2013. In response, the Oxnard Police Department has launched a new umbrella initiative, Operation Safer and Stronger aimed to further inform, engage, and empower Oxnard residents to be partners in public safety.

The UCR crime categories and the reported crime data for 2012 and 2013 are listed below.

Part I Crimes	2012	2013	Numerical Difference
Violent Crimes
Homicide	9	15	6
Rape	8	10	2
Robbery	304	328	24
Aggravated Assault	282	298	16
Total	603	651	48
Property Crimes
Burglary	848	974	126
Motor Vehicle Theft	546	664	118
Larceny (Theft)	2,677	3,436	759
Arson	40	36	-4
Total	4,111	5,110	999

Grand Total	4,714	5,761	1,047

Under the categories of Violent Crimes, there was a 5.7% increase in aggravated assaults. “We’re never satisfied with crime increases, but it’s important to keep the numbers in perspective. Oxnard experienced a 20-year decline in violent crime, up to 2013. The number of reported aggravated assaults in 2013 is still below the 10-year average of 337,” said Assistant Chief Scott Whitney.

The city also experienced 15 homicides in 2013. This compares to nine homicides in 2012 and a 10-year average of 13. There were two more reported rapes in 2013 than in 2012 and a 7.9% increase in robberies.
Property crimes had the biggest category increase, with reported larcenies (thefts) up nearly 29% in 2013, as compared to 2012.

For reporting purposes, the crime category of theft is divided into eight classifications: Bicycles, Coin-Operated Devices, From Building, From Motor Vehicle, Purse-Snatch/Pick Pocket, Shoplift, Vehicle Parts, and All Other. Listed below is a comparison by type of theft from 2012 to 2013, January through June.

Category	2012	2013	Numerical Difference	Percent Change
All Other	411	499	88	21.4%
Bicycles	176	129	-47	-26.7%
Coin-Operated Devices	17	6	-11	-64.7%
From Building	186	131	-55	-29.6%
From Motor Vehicle	892	1,307	415	46.5%
Purse Snatch/Pocket Pick	3	3	0	0.0%
Shoplift	747	926	179	24.0%
Vehicle Parts	245	435	190	77.6%
Total	2,677	3,436	759	28.4%

Burglaries (residential and commercial) increased by 14.9%, 126 additional crimes. Residential burglaries increased by 14.2%, 89 additional crimes and commercial burglaries increased by 16.2%, 37 additional crimes.

Motor vehicle theft increased by 21.6%, 118 additional crimes. Passenger vehicles manufactured by Honda and Toyota continue to be targeted.

As a part of Operation Safer and Stronger, the Oxnard Police Crime Prevention Unit will examine trends citywide and offer crime prevention tips to help people reduce the likelihood of becoming a victims. “In addition, we have also launched a bi-monthly crime prevention seminar series that we hope will continue to bring concerned and committed neighbors together,” Williams added.

“The Oxnard Police Department encourages community members to remain vigilant, secure property, and report any suspicious activity. Too often, people see or hear something in the moments or days leading up to a crime, and do not report it to the police. Much of the increase in property crime can be prevented by not leaving valuables visible in your vehicle, and securing our car and home doors and windows when one is not home, no matter for how long.” said Williams. “Working together and having a more engaged community will make us all safer and stronger.” Williams added.