Jeri Williams
Chief of Police

Oxnard Police Department

R. Jason Benites
Assistant Chief

Scott Whitney
Assistant Chief

OXNARD POLICE DEPARTMENT

NEWS RELEASE

INCIDENT:	DUI/Drivers License Checkpoint
DATE/TIME:	Friday, January 18th, 2013 9:00 P.M. to 1:30 A.M.
LOCATION:	City of Oxnard
CONTACT PERSON & CONTACT INFO:	Maria Peña, Traffic Collision Investigator (805) 385-7750

DETAILS:
On January 18^th, 2013, between the hours of 9:00 P.M. and 2:00 A.M., officers from the Oxnard Police Department conducted a sobriety and driver’s license checkpoints.

The checkpoint was conducted in the westbound lanes of Pleasant Valley Road just west of Jefferson Square.

Officers screened 496 motorists who passed through the checkpoint and conducted seven DUI investigations of drivers who had been drinking alcohol. Of those investigations, five were arrested for DUI, one was arrested for drug possession, and one was arrested for a felony rape warrant.

At the checkpoint, citations were issued to 24 drivers for various drivers’ license violations. 18 drivers were issued citations for driving without a valid driver’s license, three drivers were cited for driving with a suspended driver’s license, and four were cited for having open containers of alcohol in the vehicle. Nine vehicles were towed from the checkpoints.

The Oxnard Police Department will continue to conduct DUI enforcement operations 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. These DUI enforcement operations are funded by grants 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 Jamie Brown at (805) 385-7749 or via e-mail at jamie.brown@oxnardpd.org

DATE / TIME PREPARED: 01/19/13, 0250 hours

Jeri Williams
Chief of Police

Oxnard Police Department

R. Jason Benites
Assistant Chief

Scott Whitney
Assistant Chief

OXNARD POLICE DEPARTMENT

NEWS RELEASE

INCIDENT:	Graffiti In Progress
DATE/TIME:	01/24/2013 1247
LOCATION:	2400 Block N. Oxnard Blvd.
VICTIM(S):	City of Oxnard
SUSPECT(S):	Name withheld (Three Juveniles)
LOSS:	$3000 In Damage
PREPARED BY:	Officer Mike Blanchard
CONTACT PERSON & CONTACT INFO:	Senior Officer John Brisslinger 805-385-7660

DETAILS:

On 01/24/2013 at 1247 hours, plainclothes, undercover detectives with the Oxnard Police Department observed three male juveniles begin tagging graffiti with spray paint in the 2400 block of North Oxnard Blvd. The three juveniles were observed spray painting over 30 separate taggings. Uniformed officers responded to the location and were able to contact and arrest the three juveniles. All three juveniles were in possession of spray cans that were stolen from a nearby hardware store. The total cost of repair for the graffiti was over $3000. The juveniles were cited for felony graffiti vandalism, misdemeanor graffiti vandalism, possession of graffiti tools, and shoplifting.

DATE / TIME PREPARED:

01/24/2013 1530 Hours

Jeri Williams
Chief of Police

Oxnard Police Department

R. Jason Benites
Assistant Chief

Scott Whitney
Assistant Chief

OXNARD POLICE DEPARTMENT

NEWS RELEASE

INCIDENT:	Fourth suspect arrested for the 2009 murder of Alfredo Vargas
DATE/TIME:	April 4, 2013, 2:30 p.m.
LOCATION:	Homicide location: 2700 block of El Dorado Avenue, Oxnard Arrest location: 5300 block of Hidalgo Street, Camarillo
VICTIM(S):	Alfredo Vargas
SUSPECT(S):	Guillermo Galvan, 24 Years of Age, Camarillo resident
PREPARED BY:	Sergeant Christopher Williams, Major Crimes Supervisor, (805) 385-7763, christopher.williams@oxnardpd.org
CONTACT PERSON & CONTACT INFO:	Det. Mike Young, Major Crimes Unit (805) 385-7606 mike.young@oxnardpd.org

Guillermo Galvan

(OXNARD, Calif)– On April 4, 2013, at approximately 2:30 p.m., 24 year old Camarillo resident Guillermo Galvan was arrested for his role in the gang-motivated murder of Alfredo Vargas in 2009. Galvan was arrested in front of his residence by investigators. Galvan has been booked at the Ventura County Jail where he will await court proceedings along with the other three suspects that have been arrested in connection with Vargas’ murder.

Investigators are still searching for other suspects in Vargas’ murder and others involved in the 2006 murder of Oscar Gonzales, the 2009 murder of Ramiro Huerta, and the 2012 murder of Jose Gonzales. Investigators believe members of the Lemonwood Chiques criminal street gang are responsible for all of these murders.

The investigation into the murder of Alfredo Vargas is ongoing and members of the public are asked to contact Detective Mike Young at (805) 385-7606 or mike.young@oxnardpd.orgif they have any information about this or any other homicide case.

#####

DATE / TIME PREPARED: April 5, 2013, 9:00 a.m.

Jeri Williams
Chief of Police

Oxnard Police Department

R. Jason Benites
Assistant Chief

Scott Whitney
Assistant Chief

OXNARD POLICE DEPARTMENT

NEWS RELEASE

INCIDENT:	DUI/Drivers License Checkpoint
DATE/TIME:	Friday, April 26th, 2013 9:00 P.M. to 3:00 A.M.
LOCATION:	City of Oxnard
VICTIM(S):
SUSPECT(S):
WITNESS(ES):
SUSPECT VEHICLE(S):
LOSS:
PREPARED BY:	Jamie Brown, Traffic Coordinator
CONTACT PERSON & CONTACT INFO:	Jamie Brown, Traffic Coordinator (805) 385-7749

DETAILS:

On April 26^th, 2013, between the hours of 9:00 P.M. and 3:00 A.M., officers from the Oxnard Police Department conducted two DUI/Driver’s license checkpoints.

The first checkpoint was conducted in the southbound lanes of Saviers Road just north of Laurel Street and the second checkpoint was conducted in the southbound and northbound lanes of “H “ Street just south of Glenwood Drive.

Officers screened 397 motorists who passed through the checkpoints and conducted 6 DUI investigations on drivers who had been drinking alcohol. Of those investigations, 2 driver were arrested for DUI alcohol.

Citations were issued to 5 drivers for various Vehicle Code violations. 25 drivers were issued citations for driving without a valid driver’s license, 1 driver was cited for driving with a suspended driver’s license, and 7 vehicles were towed from the checkpoints.

The Oxnard Police Department will continue to conduct DUI enforcement operations 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. These DUI enforcement operations are funded by grants from the California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) and through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

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

DATE / TIME PREPARED: 04/27/13, 0330 hours

Jeri Williams
Chief of Police

Oxnard Police Department

R. Jason Benites
Assistant Chief

Scott Whitney
Assistant Chief

OXNARD POLICE DEPARTMENT

NEWS RELEASE

INCIDENT:	Congested Intersection Re-Opened
DATE/TIME:	5-28-13 / 1745 hours
LOCATION:	Wooley Road / Rose Avenue
PREPARED BY:	Marty Meyer, Commander
CONTACT PERSON & CONTACT INFO:	Marty Meyer, (805) 207-7078 martin.meyer@oxnardpd.org

DETAILS:

The intersection at Wooley Road and Rose Avenue has been re-opened.

An earlier single vehicle, non-injury collision where a fire hydrant was sheared off its moorings had necessitated some re-routing of traffic.

DATE / TIME PREPARED: 5-28-13 / 1930 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:	07/14/13; 2115 hours
LOCATION:	1900 Block of Gisler Avenue
VICTIM(S):	17 Year-old male, Oxnard resident
SUSPECT(S):	Unknown

SUSPECT VEHICLE(S):	Unknown

PREPARED BY:	Commander Kevin Baysinger
CONTACT PERSON & CONTACT INFO:	See below

DETAILS:

On 7/14/13, at approximately 2115 hours, officers responded to the 1900 Block of Gisler Avenue regarding a victim of a shooting. On arrival, the officers located the 17 year-old male victim who had suffered non-life threatening gunshot wounds. He was later transported to the Ventura County Medical Center.

Officers on scene learned little information regarding any possible suspect or vehicle description.

Persons with information about this incident are encouraged to call the Violent Crimes Hotline where you can remain anonymous at (805) 982-7070 or Ventura County Crime Stoppers at (800) 222-8477.

Use http://www.venturacountycrimestoppers.org/contactus.aspx to submit a tip via text or e-mail.

DATE / TIME PREPARED: 07/14/13, 2300 hours

Jeri Williams
Chief of Police

Oxnard Police Department

R. Jason Benites
Assistant Chief

Scott Whitney
Assistant Chief

OXNARD POLICE DEPARTMENT

NEWS RELEASE

INCIDENT:	Arrest of Murder Suspect
DATE/TIME:	August 2, 2013
LOCATION:	Homicide location: 2700 block of El Dorado Avenue, Oxnard Arrest location: Ventura County Main Jail
VICTIM(S):	Alfredo Vargas Ramiro Huerta
SUSPECT(S):	Jorge Cervantes, 19 Years of Age, Oxnard resident
PREPARED BY:	Sergeant Alex Arnett, Violent Crimes Supervisor, (805) 385-7600, alex.arnett@oxnardpd.org
CONTACT PERSON & CONTACT INFO:	Det. Mike Young, Major Crimes Unit (805) 385-7606 mike.young@oxnardpd.org

DETAILS:

(OXNARD, Calif)– On August 2, 2013, Oxnard resident Jorge Cervantes was served with a criminal indictment, charging him with two counts of murder, attempted shooting at an inhabited dwelling and numerous enhancements related to these charges. This indictment was related to the murders of Alfredo Vargas and Ramiro Huerta.

Alfredo Vargas was murdered during a gang related incident on January 17, 2009. Cervantes was arrested on April 2, 2013 for his role in this murder, and has been in the custody of the Ventura County Sheriff’s Department. Three additional defendants, Guillermo Galvan, Alexis Ramirez, and Jonathan Gallegos, who had also been previously arrested for their role in Vargas’ death, were also indicted for murder as it relates to the Vargas incident.

Additionally, Cervantes was indicted for the January 27, 2009 murder of Ramiro Huerta. Huerta was murdered just 10 days after Alfredo Vargas. Huerta was shot to death just outside his apartment, after walking home from a nearby convenience store. Huerta was killed just a short distance away from where Vargas had been killed less than two weeks before. Investigators believe that Huerta’s murder was also committed for the benefit of the Lemonwood Chiques street gang.

This additional arrest is the result of a task force the Oxnard Police Department formed in August of 2012 to solve a series of homicides which occurred between 2006 and 2012. The Oxnard Police Department received significant assistance in these investigations by the Ventura County District Attorney’s Office.

There are additional outstanding suspects in the Alfredo Vargas homicide and this and other investigations continue to be actively worked. These investigations also include the 2006 murder of Oscar Gonzales and the 2012 murder of Jose Gonzales. Investigators believe members of the Lemonwood Chiques criminal street gang are responsible for all of these murders.

Jorge Cervantes remains in the custody of the Ventura County Sheriff’s Department with bail currently set at $1,610,000. Members of the public are asked to contact Detective Mike Young at (805) 385-7606 or mike.young@oxnardpd.orgif they have any information about this or any other homicide case.

DATE / TIME PREPARED: August 8, 2013, 02:00 p.m.

Jeri Williams
Chief of Police

Oxnard Police Department

R. Jason Benites
Assistant Chief

Scott Whitney
Assistant Chief

OXNARD POLICE DEPARTMENT

NEWS RELEASE

EVENT:	Road Closures for the Pier to Pier Ventura Marathon
DATE/TIME:	Sunday, September 8, 2013 / 6:30a.m to 1:00p.m.
LOCATION:	Harbor Blvd, Oxnard Gonzales Rd, Oxnard
CONTACT PERSON & CONTACT INFO:	Jamie Brown, Traffic Coordinator (805) 385-7749

DETAILS:

The Pier to Pier Ventura Marathon will be held this Sunday, September 8^th starting from the Ventura Pier at 7:00 a.m. and ending at 1:00p.m. The marathon will go through Ventura, Oxnard and Port Hueneme. The marathon is expected to have approximately 800 runners which may cause some traffic delays along the marathon route.

The marathon route from Ventura will be southbound on Harbor Boulevard to Channel Islands Boulevard, eastbound Channel Islands Boulevard to Ventura Road and southbound Ventura Road to the Port Hueneme Pier. Runners will make a U-turn at the Port Hueneme Pier and return to the Ventura Pier following the same route.

The only road closures in the City Oxnard will be on Harbor Boulevard between Fifth Street and Spinnaker Drive in Ventura and Gonzales Road between Victoria Avenue and Harbor Boulevard. All other streets along the marathon route will remain open. Local residents are encouraged to use alternate routes for trips in and out of the city.

In an attempt to accommodate local residents traveling along the marathon route, the Oxnard Police Traffic Unit will have officers and additional traffic control personnel assigned to several intersections along the marathon route to assist with traffic control.

For Further Information regarding road closures contact Senior Officer Jamie Brown at 385-7749 or jamie.brown@oxnardpd.org. For further information regarding the marathon go to: www.venturamarathon.com

DATE / TIME PREPARED:
9-6-13 / 1300 hours

Jeri Williams
Chief of Police

Oxnard Police Department

R. Jason Benites
Assistant Chief

Scott Whitney
Assistant Chief

OXNARD POLICE DEPARTMENT

NEWS RELEASE

EVENT:	Inaugural Spanish Citizens Academy offered for the first time in the City of Oxnard, Graduation this Wednesday
DATE/TIME:	October 2, 2013 / 5:30-8:00 pm
LOCATION:	City Council Chambers 305 West 3rd St., Oxnard 93030
PREPARED BY:	Miguel Lopez, Community Affairs Manager, (805) 385-7631, miguel.lopez@oxnardpd.org
CONTACT PERSON & CONTACT INFO:	Miguel Lopez, Community Affairs Manager, (805) 385-7631, miguel.lopez@oxnardpd.org

DETAILS: (OXNARD, Calif)– The Oxnard Police Department is proud to announce the graduation of our inaugural Citizens Academy in Spanish, “Academia de Seguridad Publica para la Comunidad” this Wednesday, October 2, 2013 at 5:30pm in the City Council Chambers.

This new program came to fruition after months of planning and coordination. The 12-week program was designed to provide people in the community with an overview of the functions and operational procedures of law enforcement through presentations and discussions on a number of different topics ranging from Oxnard Police Department overview and organization, Crime Analysis, Community Based-Policing Strategy, Traffic and 911 Communication Center overview, Graffiti and our youth programs, Gangs, Professional Standards, SWAT, and Major Crimes and Homicide. Each instructor is considered an expert in their field of discussion, and all presentations were prepared and presented in Spanish.

This group of community members also had a chance to visit and tour the Sheriff and Police Education and Training Academy in Camarillo, where they each had an opportunity to use the updated versions of the Force Option Simulator, a program that allows officers—and in this case community members—to react to real-life situations where they would use force, while other community members and training staff assessed their reactions.

“In an effort to further strengthen relationships with our diverse community members, we wanted to provide an extraordinary program—rich in content and a remarkable experience,” said Oxnard Police Chief Jeri Williams. “Our goal is to promote a better understanding of law enforcement for the people we serve, and we’re thrilled that we were able to offer it for our large Spanish speaking population throughout the City of Oxnard” Williams added.

For the Oxnard Police Department, our goal was clear and simple: that after their experience in this program, participants are left with a better understanding of who our officers are, our job, and how difficult our job can be to protect and serve the community in which they reside.

“For the last 12 weeks I was with the Police Department, which provided the community with a public safety Academy [in Spanish]…They have a series of values that commit them to work for the community and [with] the community… Every citizen has the [responsibility] to know and respect the laws. I want to say that everything I learned made me think differently about the officers and their work…” wrote Mrs. Teresa Salazar on the Oxnard Police Department’s Facebook Page shortly after the last class meeting. “I recommend this Academy to anyone who wants to improve [our] community and [want] to [better] understand the work of the Police Department,” she added.

Police Department’s across the state are looking or are in the process of creating similar Citizens Academies in Spanish. In fact, the Pasadena Police Department launched their Spanish Citizens Police Academy last week (September 26, 2013).

The Oxnard Police Department has a set of core values that every officer and civilian member of our staff adhere to, including: our value for the cultural diversity within our community and our department, our value for the partnerships we form with all members of our community, and our value of the public’s trust. We are proud of this new program and the support we have received from officers and community members who were all instrumental to its success,” said Chief Williams.

We look forward to offering two Citizens Academy next year—one in English and a second in Spanish— with a new cadre of community members who are interested in learning more about law enforcement, the laws that govern us, and meeting exceptional members on our team.

##

DATE / TIME PREPARED: September 30, 2013, 5:30 PM

Jeri Williams
Chief of Police

Oxnard Police Department

R. Jason Benites
Assistant Chief

Scott Whitney
Assistant Chief

OXNARD POLICE DEPARTMENT

NEWS RELEASE

INCIDENT:	Homicide
DATE/TIME:	10/26/13 2248 hours
LOCATION:	1100 block of South “L” Street
VICTIM(S):	49 year old Oxnard resident, name withheld pending notification of next of kin
SUSPECT(S):	17 year old Oxnard resident



PREPARED BY:	Sergeant Christopher Williams, (805) 385-7763 christopher.williams@oxnardpd.org
CONTACT PERSON & CONTACT INFO:	Detective Ken Tougas, (805) 200-5669 ken.tougas@oxnardpd.org

DETAILS:

On 10/26/13 at approximately 2248 hours, officers were dispatched to the 1100 block of South “L” Street regarding a suspicious death. When officers arrived they located a male subject deceased inside the residence.

The victim was a 49 year old Oxnard resident. His name is being withheld until his family is notified. During the course of the investigation it was determined that the subject was a victim of homicide. Investigators were able to identify a suspect and make an arrest. Investigators are continuing their investigation and are still attempting to establish a motive for the attack. Investigators don’t believe this was a random act and both the victim and suspect know each other. Unfortunately because this is an active investigation, no further details will be released at this time.

Investigators are encouraging anyone with information about this incident to contact Detective Ken Tougas at (805) 200-5669. 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: 10/27/13, 1830 Hours