Officer Resigns After Taking the Fifth

An Oxnard police officer suspected of hiding a gun allegedly used by his brother-in-law in a December slaying has resigned from the force, police officials said.

Gary Zamberletti, who joined the Oxnard Police Department just last year, left the force Monday, officials said.

“He voluntarily resigned from our organization yesterday for personal reasons,” Assistant Police Chief Stan Myers said Tuesday.

At a hearing Friday, Zamberletti invoked his Fifth Amendment right to avoid self-incrimination and refused to testify about his alleged involvement with his brother-in-law, Joaquin “Jack” Ayala Jr., 21.

Ayala is accused of murder in the Dec. 26 shooting death of Josue Salazar Carrera.

Prosecutors allege that Carrera, 21, was walking his dog in front of Ayala’s house on Hemlock Street in Oxnard when the two exchanged words and Carrera was killed with a shotgun.

Prosecutors believe Ayala and Zamberletti were drinking beer at Zamberletti’s Oxnard home in the hours before the 8:30 p.m. slaying, Ventura County Deputy Dist. Atty. Michael Frawley said.

Frawley said Ayala returned to Zamberletti’s home after the shooting. Frawley claimed in court that the police officer may have assisted Ayala in disposing of the murder weapon, which has never been found.

No charges have been filed against Zamberletti, Frawley said.