During a routine distracted driver operation in Oxnard, a confrontation involving a convicted felon and a firearm ended peacefully thanks to the efforts of local law enforcement. On Monday evening, the Oxnard Police Department's Traffic Unit made a traffic stop that led to a tense exchange and a subsequent firearm arrest.
As reported by the Oxnard Police Department, at approximately 7:22 p.m., officers stopped a 2000 GMC Sierra pickup for a vehicle code violation near Vineyard Avenue and Riverpark Boulevard. Unfortunately, the nature of the violation wasn't specified in the release. The driver, identified as 28-year-old Diego Penaloza, pulled over into a business parking lot where the situation escalated.
According to a news release from the Oxnard Police Department, Penaloza became agitated during the stop and alerted officers to the presence of a firearm. In a dangerous twist, he provoked the officers by asking them to shoot him. Displaying a focus on de-escalation, the officers managed to subdue Penaloza without any shots being fired or injuries occurring.
"Penaloza was telling officers to shoot him," the department said, and the firearm was subsequently found in plain view next to Penaloza's leg. Also found in his possession were narcotics and paraphernalia. A convicted felon, Penaloza's conduct resulted in charges for firearms and narcotic-related offenses.
With crimes involving guns and drugs under intense scrutiny, the department expressed its commitment to reducing such instances through diligent enforcement. They encourage the community to share any information that may assist in these efforts through various anonymous reporting methods, including the Ventura County Crime Stoppers and the police department’s website, where concerned citizens can report on "Suspicious Activity."
