OXNARD : Man Beaten, Stabbed Despite Police Tip

Oxnard police received a phone call Sunday warning that there would be violence at a T-ball tournament in La Colonia later that day but had relaxed their presence in the area by the time a brutal beating occurred, authorities said Tuesday.

Three men stabbed 35-year-old Johnny Foster and beat him with baseball bats about 5:30 p.m. Sunday. Foster was watching his daughter, Alisha, 6, play T-ball at the time of the beating.

Foster was released from St. John’s Regional Medical Center on Monday after being treated for stab wounds to the chest and injuries to his head, police said.

Oxnard Police Chief Harold Hurtt acknowledged that police had received an anonymous tip earlier Sunday that there would be violence at the park, the site of the “Why Can’t We Be Friends T-Ball Tournament,” about 4:30 p.m.

Hurtt said police took the tip seriously--they set up a special watch and deployed numerous officers in the area about 4:30 p.m.

But by 5:30, the police presence in La Colonia--though still strong--was no longer centered around Colonia Park, he said.

“Unfortunately, we weren’t there at 5:30 when the attack took place,” Hurtt said. “I’m sure every citizen in Oxnard would like a police officer in front of their house all of the time. But that’s not possible.”

Carlos Aguilera, chairman of La Colonia Neighborhood Watch, slammed police for their lack of presence. He was at the park when the beating took place and did not see any police around, he said.

“It seems to me that there isn’t really a concern for the residents of our neighborhood,” Aguilera said.

“The Police Department is only looking to score brownie points here by rousting so-called gang members. When it comes to protecting the people of this community, they are not always there.”