BERKELEY — Police-worn body video failed to show details of a shooting by a Berkeley police officer last month that critically injured an armed man who was later arrested.
Police on Tuesday released the video and more details of the April 13 shooting.
Related Articles
‘Fortunate to be alive’: Oakland murder case thrown out through plea deal Oakland: Two men shot Tuesday afternoon near City Hall After Tribune Tower shooting, Oakland restaurant owner seeks safer location Expert: Antioch Police Department updates policies to align with national standards Ex-Antioch cop sent to house arrest after steroid distribution convictionIn a statement that accompanied the video, police said the the body-worn camera of the officer who fired and wounded the man “had been inadvertently deactivated earlier in the critical incident” and attempts to recover the footage through the manufacturer were unsuccessful.
The video released was from cameras worn by four officers who responded to the scene but none captured the actual shooting. One of the body cameras showed details from after the shooting.
In the statement, police said officers responded about 6:50 a.m. April 13 to a 911 call reporting a possible domestic disturbance in the 1900 block of McGee Avenue. The caller reported hearing a woman screaming and believed she was being assaulted. According to police, the caller reported hearing a woman say she could not breathe.
Video showed that officers arrived outside the apartment unit, and police said they tried to make contact with the apartment’s occupants by knocking on a black, steel security door. They received no response for several minutes and said that out of concern for the woman’s safety, they began to force entry.
“The male inside, later identified as 33-year-old Ricardo Ruiz, threatened to shoot officers and indicated he could see them via exterior security cameras,” police said in their statement. Ruiz said he could see the officers outside his door, police said and video showed.
“Officers disabled two cameras for safety, after which Ruiz racked a shotgun and made threats to use lethal force against officers,” police said in a statement.
According to police, Ruiz claimed there was no woman in his apartment and that he had been a victim of “swatting” — a prank emergency call that aims to draw a large police response to an address. Police said a supervisor checked on Ruiz’s claims and determined no swatting occurred. Police said Ruiz continued to threaten the officers the whole time, and other officers evacuated nearby apartments and businesses.
Police said they later heard the man racking a shotgun and yelling at officers to “back up now!”
The standoff continued until “about 25 minutes after officers first knocked on the suspect’s door, (when) Ruiz opened the steel security door and pointed what officers described as a black pistol with a tactical light in the officer’s direction,” police said in their statement. “Ruiz then retreated back into the apartment.”
Video released by police appears to capture that moment.
“Get up off my roof. Get up off my roof now,” a voice that police said is Ruiz’s can be heard yelling in one of the videos. “I will shoot! I’m … I’m warning you only one time. This is my only warning. After this, I’m shooting. Swear to God. I see your guy up there. Tell him to get off the roof now, or else.”
Police said an on-duty trained SWAT negotiator tried to de-escalate the situation by talking with Ruiz but that he made additional threats and did not respond to questions about anyone being in the apartment.
“My goal is for everyone to leave here safely. That’s my goal,” one of the officers yells at the man during the confrontation. “I wanna make sure you’re safe and all my people are safe.” The man responds by telling the police to leave or “I’ll shoot you on sight.”
According to police, Ruiz opened the door at approximately 7:42 a.m. and “pointed what appeared to be a gun at officers.” That’s when one of the officers fired, police said.
Police have not publicly identified the officer who fired. Video indicates he fired more than one shot.
Other key details were missing.
“The officer who discharged his service weapon, striking Ruiz, had a body-worn camera, but it had inadvertently been deactivated earlier in the incident,” police said in their statement that accompanied the video. “None of the body-worn cameras or fixed cameras captured a view of Ruiz when he again exited his apartment and pointed a gun at officers.”
Berkeley police apprehend 33-year-old Ricardo Ruiz after shooting him just outside the door of his apartment. (Frame from body cam footage/ Berkeley Police)Earlier in the incident, video seemed to capture Ruiz yelling at an officer while pointing some object.
After the shooting, “Ruiz went back into the apartment and later collapsed on the ground outside the now-open steel door,” police said in their statement that accompanied the video. “A woman exited the apartment and kneeled down next to Ruiz. Officers moved in, got the woman to safety, and two trained SWAT medics began rendering aid to Ruiz.”
Police said the woman was an acquaintance.
Berkeley Fire Department paramedics treated Ruiz and rushed him to a hospital.
Related Articles
‘Fortunate to be alive’: Oakland murder case thrown out through plea deal Oakland: Two men shot Tuesday afternoon near City Hall After Tribune Tower shooting, Oakland restaurant owner seeks safer location Expert: Antioch Police Department updates policies to align with national standards Ex-Antioch cop sent to house arrest after steroid distribution conviction Investigators recovered a shotgun loaded with slugs and a high-powered air rifle loaded with metal pellets from the scene, police said. They added that Ruiz pointed the air rifle at officers.This incident is being investigated by the Berkeley Police Department’s Homicide Division and Internal Affairs. Per standard protocol, the Berkeley Police Department notified and consulted with the offices of the Alameda County District Attorney and the Attorney General regarding this incident.
Ruiz was later released from the hospital and booked into county jail.
On April 18th, the Alameda County District Attorney’s Office filed 17 felony charges against Ruiz. They include one count of assault with a deadly weapon likely to cause great bodily injury on a peace officer, 12 counts of exhibiting a firearm in the presence of an officer and four counts of unlawful firearm activity.
The air rifle, bottom, was loaded with metal pellets and the shotgun was loaded with slugs. Both guns were ready to fire according to Bekeley Police. (Frame from video/ Berkeley Police Department)According to court records, he has not yet entered a plea to the charges and is being held without bail at Santa Rita Jail pending a bail hearing May 9.
Ruiz, who also goes by the name Rick Fuze, also is charged for allegedly activating a stun gun in March during a protest at a Tesla dealership March 22. He was arrested during a protest featuring about 175 people at the 4th Street Tesla dealership in Berkeley. Authorities said he was the lone counter protester who approached the crowd on a bicycle.
No one was struck by the stun gun and Ruiz claimed he was acting in self defense. He was charged April 21 with a misdemeanor count of exhibiting a deadly weapon. He is being held in lieu of $5,000 in that case and has yet to enter a plea, court records show.
To watch the video, go to youtu.be/9Na5u_NuqbA. Viewer discretion is advised.
Read More Details
Finally We wish PressBee provided you with enough information of ( Berkeley police officer video of April shooting released but details missing )
Also on site :
- Walmart Has 'Awesome' $144 Linen Blackout Curtains for Only $38, and Shoppers Say They 'Block Out So Much Light'
- Judge seeks more information from Trump administration about prison deal with El Salvador
- Lizzo Shares Bold Statement About Running Into Nicki Minaj at the Met Gala