OXNARD : Three Officers Hurt in Struggle With Man

Three Oxnard police officers suffered minor injuries after struggling with a pipe-wielding man who had broken windows in four homes early Monday in Oxnard, authorities said.

The officers--Randy Latimer, 29, Michael Radziewicz, 32, and Senior Officer Johnny Gomez, 43--suffered minor cuts and bruises in the 10-minute struggle in the back unit of a duplex in the 500 block of North McKinley Avenue about 1:20 a.m., police said.

Jose Refugio Paramo, 36, was arrested on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon and assault of a police officer, police spokesman David Keith said.

A neighbor said that Paramo broke seven windows in his residence and three in neighboring residences. Neither the neighbor nor Keith knew why Paramo was angry.

Police found Paramo in an open closet in the far corner of the back unit, armed with a four-foot pipe and a three-foot broom handle, Keith said. Paramo refused to come out.

Even after one of the officers used pepper spray to subdue him, Paramo fought back with his fists and his weapons, Keith said.

Paramo, who sustained minor injuries in the scuffle, was taken to St. John’s Regional Medical Center but refused treatment, Keith said.

Sheriff’s Sgt. Fred Bustillos said Paramo, who also goes by the last name Aguilar, was being held in Ventura County Jail in lieu of $5,000 bail. He is to be arraigned Wednesday, Bustillos said.