Man Held in Killing of His Acquaintance

Oxnard police arrested a 46-year-old Oxnard man Tuesday, the day after an acquaintance of his was found shot in the head and bludgeoned.

Douglas Eugene Wickham was booked into Ventura County Jail on suspicion of killing J. Bert Deck, 32, of Oxnard, authorities said. Wickham was arrested in the waiting room of the federal probation office on Maple Avenue in Ventura.

“He turned himself in to his parole officer because he heard we were looking for him,” Sgt. Cliff Troy said. Troy declined to say what crime Wickham was on parole for. Bail is set at $250,000.

Wickham refused to speak with police, and a motive for the killing is unknown, Troy said. He declined to elaborate on why police suspect Wickham in Deck’s slaying, noting that the investigation is ongoing and more than one person may be involved in the crime.

The two were known to drink at a bar on Ventura Road in south Oxnard.

Deck was shot in the head with a handgun and then beaten, authorities said.

Police believe Deck was slain outside an apartment building at Sanford Street and Rose Avenue early Monday, where his Harley-Davidson motorcycle was discovered. His body was found several hours later near an orchard at Pidduck and Nauman roads about two miles away.