OXNARD : Cruising Altercation Results in 3 Arrests

Three Oxnard men were arrested after an altercation between gang members and police officers during a weekly cruise night along Saviers Road, authorities said Monday.

Jose Luis Gutierrez and Zoilo Zalderrama, both 20, were arrested on suspicion of battery on a police officer and interfering with an officer, authorities said. Michael Juaregui, 21, of Oxnard was arrested on suspicion of public intoxication. The three were released on their own recognizance by the Oxnard Police Department, a police spokesman said.

Police Officer Humberto Jimenez was making a traffic stop along Saviers Road about 10:45 p.m. Sunday when he heard 25 to 30 young men yell gang slogans, police said.

The group of men, members of the Colonia Chiques, walked up to one car, started kicking it and challenged the occupants to a fight, Officer Peter Frieberg said.

Jimenez radioed the information to officers Frieberg and Mike Radziewicc, who were assigned to patrol the street during cruising that usually lasts from 8 p.m. to midnight Sunday, police said. Frieberg said he saw some of the gang members hit another car with their hands and yell at people inside.

Frieberg said he and Radziewicc tried to detain the men. Several of them ran, Oxnard Police Officer Don Mulville said.

Some of the remaining 20 became aggressive and refused to comply with orders, Mulville said.

When Frieberg told Gutierrez to get on his knees, Gutierrez pushed him and challenged him to fight, Frieberg said. Frieberg said he pushed Gutierrez in the chest with his baton and Gutierrez was eventually handcuffed with the assistance of other officers. Zalderrama kicked Radziewicc three times before he was subdued, Mulville said. It took about 15 additional officers to restore order. The officers were not injured, Mulville said.