Oxnard PD sees results from proactive firearms arrests
try arial, pills sans-serif;”>In January of 2014, drugs 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.
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Oxnard Police Department
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