On Sunday, July 10, 2022, at approximately 11:00 a.m., officers from the Oxnard Police Department were dispatched to Oxnard High School, located at 3400 West Gonzales Road, in reference to a large fight on the soccer field.
When officers arrived, they located the victim, 29-year-old Misael Sanchez. Sanchez was unresponsive and not breathing. EMS was summoned and Sanchez was transported by ambulance to the Ventura County Medical Center. Sanchez was listed in critical condition.
Officers spoke to witnesses and learned the fight was between two adult soccer teams. The fight occurred when the two teams disagreed with a referee’s decision. Sanchez was on the field playing soccer for one of the two teams when the fight broke out. During the fight, Sanchez was assaulted by multiple assailants.
Witnesses identified one of the assailants as 46-year-old Berlin Jose Melgara. Melgara attempted to leave but was detained and arrested for assaulting Sanchez.
The investigation is ongoing and investigators are trying to locate additional witnesses and video of the incident. If you have any information, please contact Detective Carey Everhart at 805-486-6228 or carey.everhart@oxnardpd.org.