Archives for July 2015

Jeri Williams
Chief of Police

Oxnard Police Department

R. Jason Benites
Assistant Chief

Scott Whitney
Assistant Chief

OXNARD POLICE DEPARTMENT

NEWS RELEASE

INCIDENT:	Gang member in possession of a firearm Parole Violation
DATE/TIME:	July 8, 2015 @ 1:40PM
LOCATION:	Mariposa Street @ Bluebell Street

SUSPECT(S):	Vaughnell Washington, 19 years, Oxnard resident Jose Meza, 24 years, Oxnard resident



PREPARED BY:	Officer Moses Martinez
CONTACT PERSON & CONTACT INFO:	Sergeant Tim Kelley (805) 385-8289

DETAILS:

On July 8, 2015, at about 1:40 pm members of the Oxnard Police Department Special Enforcement Unit / Gang Unit, contacted three males in the area of Mariposa Street @ Bluebell Street. During the contact Vaughnell Washington was found to be in possession of a concealed and loaded .25 cal pistol. Washington is a documented Westside Gangster Crip. Washington was arrested for several firearm violations. Also with Washington, was Jose Meza, a documented Westside Gangster Crip. Meza is currently on CDC parole for 459 PC (Burglary). Meza was arrested for being in violation of his parole. The 16 year old juvenile was not arrested and released.

The Oxnard Police Department Special Enforcement Unit is committed to reducing gang and firearms violence in the City of Oxnard through the strict enforcement of laws specifically targeting known, active gang members residing in the city. Citizens are reminded to contact the police department when they observe suspicious activity or are witness to a crime.

This is the fourth firearm arrest for the Special Enforcement Unit in the last five days.

DATE / TIME PREPARED: July 8, 2015 / 3:00 PM

Jeri Williams
Chief of Police

Oxnard Police Department

R. Jason Benites
Assistant Chief

Scott Whitney
Assistant Chief

OXNARD POLICE DEPARTMENT

NEWS RELEASE

INCIDENT:	Bank Robbery
DATE/TIME:	July 23, 2015 at approximately 2 P.M.
LOCATION:	Bank of the West, 371 West Esplanade Drive, Oxnard
VICTIM(S):	Bank of the West
SUSPECT(S):	Jimmy Lopez, 34 year old Oxnard resident
WITNESS(ES):	Witheld
SUSPECT VEHICLE(S):	N/A
LOSS:	Witheld
PREPARED BY:	Sergeant Alex Arnett
CONTACT PERSON & CONTACT INFO:	Detective Jonathan Ballow (805) 288-3289 jonathan.ballow@oxnardpd.org

DETAILS: On 7/23/15 at approximately 1400 hours, Oxnard police officers responded to a robbery that just occurred to the Bank of the West, located at 371 West Esplanade Drive. While officers were responding to the scene, information was obtained from witnesses that the suspect had fled the business with an undisclosed amount of money. There were no weapons used and nobody was injured during the commission of the crime.

Officers and detectives quickly arrived on scene and searched the area for the robbery suspect. Bank employees were able to provide a detailed description of the robbery suspect. Patrol officers that were checking nearby businesses in the 300 block of Esplanade Drive located a person that matched the physical description of the robbery suspect. That person was later identified as 34 year old Oxnard resident Jimmy Lopez. Lopez was positively identified by bank employees as the suspect. Patrol officers also located evidence related to the robbery including a significant amount of currency. Lopez was arrested for robbery.

If anyone witnessed the robbery or has information about this robbery, they are encouraged to call Detective Jonathan Ballow at (805) 288-3289. If you wish to remain anonymous you may call the violent crimes hotline at (805) 982-7070 or Ventura County Crime Stoppers at (800) 222-8477.

You can also visit this site http://www.venturacountycrimestoppers.org/contactus.aspx to submit a tip via text or email.

Jimmy Lopez

DATE / TIME PREPARED: 7/23/15 1700 Hours

Jeri Williams
Chief of Police

Oxnard Police Department

R. Jason Benites
Assistant Chief

Eric Sonstegard
Assistant Chief

OXNARD POLICE DEPARTMENT

NEWS RELEASE

INCIDENT:	Operation Safer and Stronger – Firearms Strike Team (FAST)
DATE/TIME:	January – June 2015
LOCATION:	City of Oxnard
PREPARED BY:	Andrew Salinas, Investigations Commander
CONTACT PERSON & CONTACT INFO:	Commander Andrew Salinas andrew.salinas@oxnardpd.org

DETAILS: : In January of 2014, the Oxnard Police Department launched the Operation Safer and Stronger initiative, as well as the Firearms Strike Team (FAST) led by the Violent Crimes Unit, to proactively remove firearms from prohibited persons in the city. The objective of the initiative and FAST was to reduce gun violence in Oxnard through education, intervention, and enforcement.

So far this year, Oxnard police officers have made seventy-nine (79) firearms related arrests. There was also an additional fifty-seven (57) firearms that were seized as evidence or turned into the police department. Comparably, during the same time period in 2014, Oxnard police officers made fifty five (55) gun arrests.

The Oxnard Police Department continues to devote considerable resources to combat firearms violence. During the month of June 2015, the Oxnard Police Department seized sixteen (16) firearms through directed patrols, and calls for service resulting in the arrest of 15 individuals.

On June 2, 2015, officers from the Special Enforcement Unit conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle occupied by documented gang members that were served with the gang injunction. One of the gang members, identified as 23 year old Alejandro Ramuco, was searched pursuant to his probation terms. During the search, the officers located a loaded .357 revolver concealed in his waistband. Ramuco, a POST Release Offender, was arrested for the firearms possession and a violation of the gang injunction.
On June 3, 2015, officers from the Special Enforcement Unit contacted 26 year old Casio Medina carrying a backpack. Medina is a documented gang member and was on probation. The officers searched Medina and his backpack. The officers found a loaded .25 caliber semi-automatic handgun concealed in the backpack. Medina was arrested for the firearms violation.
On June 11, 2015, patrol officers conducted a foot patrol on the 1100 block of Saviers Road. The officers contacted two persons that were on probation. One of the persons, 44 year old William Macias, was found to be on probation. During a search of his property, the officers found items indicative or narcotics sales and a .22 caliber handgun. Macias is a convicted felon and was prohibited from owning or possessing firearms. Macias was arrested for drugs and weapons violations.
On June 14, 2015, patrol officers responded to a service call of a male in a vehicle brandishing a firearm in the 3000 block of Saviers Road. The officers located the vehicle and contacted the driver of the vehicle, identified as 35 year old Samuel Perez. Perez was arrested for a misdemeanor warrant and his vehicle was searched. The officers found a loaded .22 caliber revolver and methamphetamine in the vehicle. Perez was charged with possession of illegal drugs and weapons violations.

Since the inception of the Firearms Strike Team (FAST), fourteen (14) operations have been conducted targeting over forty (40) persons that are prohibited from owning or possessing firearms due to a criminal conviction or their mental health status. Violent Crimes Investigators seized a total of ten (10) firearms during those operations. Investigators assigned to FAST will continue to target prohibited persons with an emphasis on reducing violent crimes involving firearms through education, intervention and enforcement.

The Oxnard Police Department continues to encourage residents to be partners in public safety as part of the Operation Safer and Stronger initiative. Anyone with information regarding criminal activity, or to learn more about the educational component Firearms Strike Team (FAST), is encouraged to contact the Oxnard Police Department at (805) 385-7600, or the Ventura County Crime Stoppers at (805) 222-8477 and www.venturacountycrimestoppers.org/contactus.

Date Prepared: July 27, 2015

Jeri Williams
Chief of Police

Oxnard Police Department

R. Jason Benites
Assistant Chief

Scott Whitney
Assistant Chief

OXNARD POLICE DEPARTMENT

NEWS RELEASE

INCIDENT:	DUI and Weapons Arrest
DATE/TIME:	7-30-15 / 1900 Hours
LOCATION:	3700 Block of Olds Road
VICTIM(S):	State of California
SUSPECT(S):	Francisco Alcazar, 23-year old Oxnard resident
WITNESS(ES):	None
SUSPECT VEHICLE(S):	Not released
LOSS:	N/A
PREPARED BY:	Marty Meyer, Commander
CONTACT PERSON & CONTACT INFO:	Marty Meyer, Commander, martin.meyer@oxnardpd.org, (805) 207-7078

DETAILS:

At approximately 1900 hours, an Oxnard Police Department patrol officer conducted a vehicle stop in the 3700 Block of Olds Road after observing California Vehicle Code violations. Francisco Alcazar, 23-year old Oxnard resident, was found to be under the influence of alcohol and drugs. A loaded shotgun was found inside the vehicle. Upon further examination, the officer saw the serial numbers had been filed down.

Alcazar was arrested for DUI (drugs and alcohol, misdemeanor), 23900 PC (possession of a weapon with missing or altered serial number, felony), and 25850(a) PC (loaded firearm in a motor vehicle, misdemeanor). He was booked into the Ventura County Main Jail.

Persons with additional information may call the Oxnard Police and Fire Communications Center at (805) 385-7740, or contact the Ventura County Crime Stoppers at (800) 222-8477. They can also visit the website http://www.venturacountycrimestopper.org/contact.aspx.

Date Prepared: 7-30-15, 0100 hours

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:	July 15, 2015 / 1244 hours
LOCATION:	Ventura Road @ Wagon Wheel Road
DRIVER 1:	Sven Ericsson, 47 years, Bakersfield Resident
VEHICLE 1:	White, 2007 Saturn Aura
PASSENGER (SATURN):	Carlos Ramirez, 54 years, Bakersfield Resident
DRIVER 2:	Lorena Cervantes, 22 years, Oxnard Resident
VEHICLE 2:	Black, 2015 Kia Optima
PREPARED BY:	Brian Woolley, Traffic Sergeant (805) 385-7847 brian.woolley@oxnardpd.org
CONTACT PERSON & CONTACT INFO:	Senior Officer Maria Peña (805) 385-7750 maria.pena@oxnardpd.org

DETAILS:
On Wednesday, July 15, 2015, at about 12:45 p.m., officers from the Oxnard Police Department and EMS personnel responded to the intersection of Ventura Road and Wagon Wheel Road in reference to an injury traffic collision involving two vehicles.

Preliminary investigation indicates that the black Kia Optima, driven by Lorena Cervantes, was traveling northbound on Ventura Road approaching Wagon Wheel Road. The white Saturn Aura, driven by Sven Ericsson, was traveling southbound on Ventura Road in the left turn pocket at Wagon Wheel Road. For an unknown reason, the Saturn turned left into the direct path of the Kia causing a broadside collision. Carlos Ramirez, who was seated in the right front passenger seat of the Saturn, sustained fatal injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene.

The airbags in both vehicles deployed. Drivers Ericsson and Cervantes sustained minor injuries and were transported from the scene to local hospitals.

It is unknown if alcohol and/or drugs are factors in the collision. The collision is still under investigation.

If anyone has information about this collision, please contact Senior Officer Maria Peña at 805-385-7750 or via email at maria.pena@oxnardpd.org.

DATE / TIME PREPARED: July 15, 2015 at 1820 hours