Officers Involved in Shooting Identified

A 29-year-old Oxnard man who was shot by police over the weekend remained in serious but stable condition Monday at St. John’s Regional Medical Center.

Oliverio M. Ortiz, described as a field laborer by residents of the Cypress Road neighborhood where he was shot Saturday night, allegedly got into a fight with a police officer, pulling the officer’s gun away from him. When Ortiz pointed the gun at the officer, a second officer shot him five times, hitting his left eye, chest, and leg, authorities said.

Oxnard police on Monday identified the officers as Maria Pena, 26, a three-year veteran, and Andrew Salinas, 24, a policeman for 18 months. The department would not say which officer shot Ortiz.

Both officers have been placed on paid administrative leave as police and the Ventura County district attorney’s office investigate the incident. Oxnard Police Cmdr. Joseph Munoz said neither officer has been involved in a shooting incident before.

Munoz said that police expect to file charges against Ortiz for confronting the officer. Police said Ortiz ran from officers while they questioned transients in a field about possible drug activity. They have not yet interviewed Ortiz.

“Based on his present condition, we don’t know when that will be possible,” Munoz said.