During an enforcement patrol in Oxnard's Lemonwood neighborhood, local police arrested a known gang member for possessing illegal firearms. The Oxnard Police Department confirmed in a press release that 25-year-old Juan Palomarez, an Oxnard resident, was taken into custody near DuPont St. and Napoleon Ave. on Wednesday. According to the Oxnard Police Department, the arrest occurred around 5:00 p.m. after Palomarez committed a vehicle code infraction while cycling, which led to his attempted flight and subsequent apprehension by officers.
Already familiar with Palomarez's background as a documented criminal street gang member, the officers, having prior contacts and knowing he was subject to search terms due to a previous conviction, initiated a search. Riding the bicycle, they found Palomarez in possession of two loaded firearms. "One of the firearms was determined to be a loaded 9-millimeter, Glock-style, Polymer 80, un-serialized, semi-automatic handgun," described the press release. The other gun had its serial numbers removed, adding to the violations.
Due to Palomarez's status as a "prohibited person" and his involvement in prior felony offenses, the discovery of these weapons led to felony firearm charges. The Oxnard PD added that Palomarez also had an outstanding felony warrant for a Post-Release Offender Supervision (PROS) violation, stemming from a program that allows certain non-violent offenders to serve in county jails instead of state prisons.
The Special Enforcement Unit of the Oxnard Police remains diligent in mitigating gang activity and firearm-related crimes. "The Oxnard Police Department’s Special Enforcement Unit is committed to reducing gang crimes and gun violence in the City of Oxnard through the strict enforcement of laws specifically targeting known, active gang members residing in the city," indicated their statement. They encourage anyone with details about this case or other illegal activities to reach out via their hotline or anonymously contact Ventura County Crime Stoppers.
