“California Department of Motor Vehicles investigators assist local law enforcement departments in many ways, including task forces that focus their effort on stolen vehicle investigations. We applaud VenCATT for locating this particular stolen vehicle and making the arrests associated with the enforcement stop. This work helps to keep our communities safe.”
CSLEA President Alan Barcelona
OXNARD – On November 28th, 2023, at approximately 4:00 p.m., members of the Ventura County Auto Theft Task Force (VenCATT) located a Honda Pilot that had been previously reported stolen in the City of Oxnard. Uniformed officers with the Oxnard Police Department attempted to stop the vehicle, but the driver of the vehicle failed to yield and led officers on a short pursuit through North Oxnard. The suspect stopped in a cul-de-sac and all four occupants of the vehicle fled on foot. All four suspects were located nearby and taken into custody. During a search of the stolen vehicle, a loaded AR-15 style 9mm pistol was located.
The driver of the vehicle was identified as Juan Manuel Rivera, a convicted felon who is currently on Post Release Community Supervision (PRCS) for a previous firearm possession-related offense.
The passengers in the vehicle were identified as
- Fernando Ocampo, a convicted felon also on PRCS for a previous firearms possession-related offense, who had outstanding warrant for his arrest,
- Josue Ortiz-Chavez, a convicted felon who is currently on probation for a previous firearms possession-related offense, who had an outstanding warrant for his arrest.
- and John Delarosa.
According to the Oxnard Police Department, all four subjects are also documented criminal street gang members in Ventura County.
The Ventura County Auto Theft Task Force is comprised of detectives and investigators from allied agencies throughout Ventura County including the California Department of Motor Vehicles. The primary goal of VenCATT is combating auto theft throughout the county, as auto theft is often inter-jurisdictional. Throughout Ventura County there has been an increase in stolen vehicles, with Honda, Chevrolet, Kia, and Hyundai vehicles being specifically targeted.
