OXNARD, Calif. — A traffic stop conducted by specialized gang and gun violence suppression officers resulted in the arrest of a 61-year-old Oxnard man found driving under the influence with a loaded handgun and an extended magazine, public safety officials announced.
The enforcement stop occurred on Wednesday, August 26, 2026, at approximately 3:17 p.m. in the 100 block of Kohala Street in Oxnard.
According to an official media briefing published by the Oxnard Police Department, officers assigned to the department's Special Enforcement Unit (SEU) initiated a traffic stop on a motor vehicle traveling through the Kohala Street neighborhood corridor.
Traffic Stop, Intoxication Assessment, and High-Capacity Firearm Recovery
During their initial contact with the driver, identified as 61-year-old Oxnard resident Russell Johnson, SEU officers observed physical symptoms indicating he was actively under the influence of a controlled substance.
Officers conducted a field investigation and initiated a search of the driver and vehicle. During the search, officers located and confiscated a loaded Glock 17 9mm semi-automatic handgun. The firearm was fitted with an extended 34-round high-capacity ammunition magazine.
Johnson was placed under arrest without further incident and booked into the Ventura County Main Jail on multiple felony and misdemeanor counts, including:
- Operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of a controlled substance
- Possession of a loaded firearm while under the influence of a controlled substance
- Carrying a loaded firearm in a vehicle
- Possession of an unpermitted high-capacity feeding device
"On the above date and time, officers from the Oxnard Police Department's Special Enforcement Unit conducted a traffic stop in the 100 block of Kohala Street. The driver, Russell Johnson, was found to be in possession of a controlled substance. During a search, a loaded Glock 17 with a 34-round magazine was located," the Oxnard Police Department detailed in an official briefing issued by Sergeant Jason Radcliffe.
"Johnson was arrested for being under the influence of a controlled substance and firearm charges," police officials added in their summary.
Special Enforcement Operations, Extended Magazine Hazards, and Heat Safety
The Oxnard Police Department’s Special Enforcement Unit remains dedicated to mitigating violent street crime, suppressing local gang activity, and removing illegal weapons from municipal roadways through focused traffic enforcement and active suspect monitoring.
Combining narcotics impairment with high-capacity weaponry presents an acute danger to community safety. Under California law, possession of high-capacity feeding devices capable of holding more than 10 rounds remains strictly restricted.
When individuals operate motor vehicles on public streets while impaired by narcotics while simultaneously carrying loaded handguns with 34-round extended magazines, the risk of accidental discharges, erratic driving accidents, or violent escalations increases exponentially.
By conducting proactive traffic stops along residential streets like Kohala Street, specialized units successfully interdict illegal weapons and remove impaired drivers before harm occurs.
Additionally, municipal officials reminded residents that a regional National Weather Service heat advisory remains active across Ventura County through August 28. High summer temperatures elevate health risks for vulnerable neighbors, making it essential for community members to stay hydrated, limit outdoor exertion, and check on elderly residents.
The Oxnard Police Department encourages anyone with information regarding this case or other criminal activity in the city to contact lead officers at (805) 385-7600 or submit a report online via oxnard.gov. Inquiries can also be directed to Sergeant Jason Radcliffe at (805) 385-7644 or via email at Jason.radcliffe@Oxnardpd.org.
Anonymous tips can be submitted through Ventura County Crime Stoppers by calling (800) 222-8477 or visiting venturacountycrimestoppers.org.