Transient arrested in Oxnard for allegedly assaulting 77-year-old man

OXNARD, Calif. - Oxnard police arrested a suspect after a 77-year-old man was found seriously battered late Friday morning.

Oxnard Fire, EMS personnel and Oxnard Police responded to Sixth and Meta Streets around 11:30 a.m. regarding a report of an assault victim.

Upon arriving, they found the 77-year-old wounded. He was transported to a local hospital for treatment. Police said his injuries consisted of head trauma, as well as bruises and cuts to his head, lip and hand. The hospital listed him as being in guarded condition.

Officers interviewed a witness to the assault. The witness explained that the suspect approached the victim and struck him in his face, causing the victim to fall to the ground. The suspect then continued to kick and punch the victim several times around his head. Fortunately, the witness took a photo of the suspect as he fled the scene and shared this with police. 

The statement later provided by the victim elaborated that the suspect threw rocks at his head during the assault, but missed.

Later that day, police officers located a person matching the description of the suspect at Plaza Park in Oxnard. The transient, later identified as 51-year-old John Ortiz, admitted to getting in a fight with the victim.

Ortiz was eventually arrested by officers for assault with a deadly weapon, assault with serious bodily injury and elder abuse.

Anyone with information regarding this case or other criminal activity is encouraged to contact the Oxnard Police Department at (805) 385-7600, or online at www.oxnardpd.org.