VENTURA : Woman Alleges That Deputies Beat Her
A Cabrillo Village woman has filed a claim against Ventura County alleging that two sheriff’s deputies beat her earlier this year.
Maria Cabrera, 38, claims that Deputies John Duffner and Charles MacDonald injured her arm and caused her mental stress after responding to reports of a fight June 7.
Sheriff’s deputies called to the fight in the river bottom near Cabrillo Village that Tuesday night watched as 15 to 20 men scattered upon their arrival.
They followed one suspect to the front porch of Cabrera’s home, where MacDonald said in his report that Cabrera became angry and jumped on his back. She was arrested for resisting arrest, but that charge was later dropped for lack of evidence, court records state.
In her claim, Cabrera also alleges that the county knew that Duffner had a record of using excessive force in dealing with some members of the public.
Neither Duffner nor MacDonald could be reached for comment. The claim is being reviewed by county attorneys, who declined to comment until they have investigated it in more detail.
County attorneys have 45 days to accept or reject the claim. If it is rejected, Cabrera has six months to file a lawsuit against the county, Assistant County Counsel Frank Sieh said.
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