Officer Who Killed Parolee Is Identified

Police officials Wednesday identified Officer Augustine Barroso as the SWAT team member who shot and killed an armed parolee who ran from officers last week.

Barroso, a four-year department employee, shot 22-year-old Charles Joseph Valdez of Oxnard three times on Jan. 18 after Valdez ran from officers and then reportedly pointed a gun at Barroso.

Police officials say Barroso and his partner, Vince Otani, wanted to talk to Valdez about a parole violation when he sprinted away from a taco stand in the 400 block of South C Street. Barroso gave chase.

In a parking lot in the 600 block of South D Street, Valdez turned toward Barroso, pulled a loaded handgun from his waistband and pointed it at the officer, Sgt. Jim Seitz said in a written statement.

Valdez had a lengthy criminal record in Oxnard, including three felony convictions since 1997 for auto theft, burglary and battery on a peace officer.

Barroso is on paid administrative leave pending completion of an internal investigation, as is department policy.

Meanwhile, fellow SWAT team member Nelson “Randy” Latimer has returned to work after being placed on administrative leave following the shooting death of a 17-year-old boy at Hueneme High School on Jan. 10.

Latimer, a 12-year veteran, shot Richard Gene Lopez III as the youth held a loaded pistol to the head of student Lorena Gonzalez. Lopez’s family said the teen had a history of mental illness and talked of suicide.

A department review has found the shooting was justified but both cases must still be reviewed by the Ventura County district attorney’s office, which was expected to issue its findings within a couple of weeks.