Man Killed by CHP Officer After Struggle in Ventura

A Ventura man stopped by a California Highway Patrol officer for investigation of driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol was shot and killed Sunday night after he took the officer’s night stick and “advanced on the officer,” Ventura police said.

Raymond Charles Kountz, 29, died of a single gunshot wound to the chest shortly after arriving at Ventura County Medical Center, Sgt. Mike Goth said.

The officer, Brian Smith, 24, who joined the CHP in 1984, was treated for minor injuries at the medical center and released, Goth said.

Smith had stopped Kountz on Seaward Avenue and Kountz ran away while being given a sobriety test, Goth said.

Smith ran after Kountz, caught him and the two men struggled, with Kountz grabbing the officer’s nightstick, he said.

“Kountz advanced on the officer with the baton,” Goth said. “The officer drew his weapon and after warning Kountz to halt several times, fired at Kountz.”

Witnesses have given differing versions of the incident, Goth said, but he would not elaborate. Studies are being done to determine whether Kountz had recently taken drugs, he said.

Kountz, who owned a pool cleaning service, did not have an arrest record, Goth said. His father, Eugene Kountz, was mayor of Ventura during the mid-1970s.