Oxnard squatting investigation leads to drug, gun arrest

An Oxnard woman is in custody on suspicion of gun and drug offenses after officers responded to a report of someone squatting in a dwelling, according to police.

Officers from Oxnard Police Department were on foot patrol in the 100 block of Dolores Court at 3:40 p.m. Monday and received a report of two females occupying residences unlawfully, police said. 

Officers found two females in a locked room in one of the residences, police said. Inside the room, officers found methamphetamine they believed was possessed by one of the females, according to police.

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One of the females, Melissa Estrella, 35, was found to be on probation with terms that allow searches, according to police. Officers searched a backpack belonging to her and found a small-caliber handgun that had previously been reported as stolen, according to police. 

She was arrested and booked into Ventura County jail, where she was being held Tuesday morning on suspicion of carrying a loaded firearm, carrying a loaded firearm on one’s person, trespassing and refusing to leave private property, possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia, according to jail records. 

Estrella was being held on $65,000 bail with a court hearing scheduled at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, according to jail records. 

The other female was cited for a drug offense and released, according to police. 

Mo Jazi is a breaking news reporter with The Star. Reach him at mo.najafianJazi@vcstar.com or 805-437-0236.