Oxnard police have taken a 19-year-old resident into custody following the discovery of multiple firearms in his vehicle late Saturday night. Cristian Barrera was arrested after the Oxnard Police Department received reports of an individual brandishing a handgun near a residence on the 1900 block of Pericles Place. Officers who arrived at the scene found Barrera matching the 911 caller's description, as he sat in the driver's seat of a parked, gray 2007 Honda Civic, according to a police department news release.
A subsequent search around the vicinity of Barrera's car unveiled an empty handgun holster and a cartridge of ammunition on the sidewalk, which prompted a thorough search of his vehicle. Assisted by K-9 Officer Ignacio Coronel and his partner, a firearm-detection trained dog named "Joey," an alert was given for the trunk of the Civic, leading officers to discover four loaded handguns—three of which were not registered—and additional rounds of ammunition.
Barrera, confronted with these findings, faced multiple felony charges related to the firearms and now awaits trial in Ventura County Jail. Oxnard Police Department's Sergeant Brian Woolley has called for any witnesses or individuals with further information concerning this incident to come forward, ensuring that anonymity can be maintained for those who prefer it.
Details on how to contact the police with any relevant tips are available on the Oxnard Police Department's website, which encourages visitors to report suspicious activity. Anyone desiring to remain nameless may wish to reach out to Ventura County Crime Stoppers via their hotline at (800) 222-8477 or by submitting tips online at their website, facilitating community involvement in aiding law enforcement efforts to curb local crime.
