BERKELEY — Police-worn physique video failed to point out particulars of a capturing by a Berkeley police officer final month that critically injured an armed man who was later arrested.
Police on Tuesday launched the video and extra particulars of the April 13 capturing.
In an announcement that accompanied the video, police mentioned the the body-worn digital camera of the officer who fired and wounded the person “had been inadvertently deactivated earlier in the critical incident” and makes an attempt to recuperate the footage by means of the producer had been unsuccessful.
The video launched was from cameras worn by 4 officers who responded to the scene however none captured the precise capturing. One of many physique cameras confirmed particulars from after the capturing.
Within the assertion, police mentioned officers responded about 6:50 a.m. April 13 to a 911 name reporting a attainable home disturbance within the 1900 block of McGee Avenue. The caller reported listening to a lady screaming and believed she was being assaulted. In accordance with police, the caller reported listening to a lady say she couldn’t breathe.
Video confirmed that officers arrived exterior the house unit, and police mentioned they tried to make contact with the house’s occupants by knocking on a black, metal safety door. They acquired no response for a number of minutes and mentioned that out of concern for the lady’s security, they started to power entry.
“The male inside, later identified as 33-year-old Ricardo Ruiz, threatened to shoot officers and indicated he could see them via exterior security cameras,” police mentioned of their assertion. Ruiz mentioned he might see the officers exterior his door, police mentioned and video confirmed.
“Officers disabled two cameras for safety, after which Ruiz racked a shotgun and made threats to use lethal force against officers,” police mentioned in an announcement.
In accordance with police, Ruiz claimed there was no lady in his house and that he had been a sufferer of “swatting” — a prank emergency name that goals to attract a big police response to an deal with. Police mentioned a supervisor checked on Ruiz’s claims and decided no swatting occurred. Police mentioned Ruiz continued to threaten the officers the entire time, and different officers evacuated close by residences and companies.
Police mentioned they later heard the person racking a shotgun and yelling at officers to “back up now!”
The standoff continued till “about 25 minutes after officers first knocked on the suspect’s door, (when) Ruiz opened the steel security door and pointed what officers described as a black pistol with a tactical light in the officer’s direction,” police mentioned of their assertion. “Ruiz then retreated back into the apartment.”
Video launched by police seems to seize that second.
“Get up off my roof. Get up off my roof now,” a voice that police mentioned is Ruiz’s will be heard yelling in one of many movies. “I will shoot! I’m … I’m warning you only one time. This is my only warning. After this, I’m shooting. Swear to God. I see your guy up there. Tell him to get off the roof now, or else.”
Police mentioned an on-duty educated SWAT negotiator tried to de-escalate the state of affairs by speaking with Ruiz however that he made extra threats and didn’t reply to questions on anybody being within the house.
“My goal is for everyone to leave here safely. That’s my goal,” one of many officers yells on the man in the course of the confrontation. “I wanna make sure you’re safe and all my people are safe.” The person responds by telling the police to go away or “I’ll shoot you on sight.”
In accordance with police, Ruiz opened the door at roughly 7:42 a.m. and “pointed what appeared to be a gun at officers.” That’s when one of many officers fired, police mentioned.
Police haven’t publicly recognized the officer who fired. Video signifies he fired multiple shot.
Different key particulars had been lacking.
“The officer who discharged his service weapon, striking Ruiz, had a body-worn camera, but it had inadvertently been deactivated earlier in the incident,” police mentioned of their assertion that accompanied the video. “None of the body-worn cameras or fixed cameras captured a view of Ruiz when he again exited his apartment and pointed a gun at officers.”
Berkeley police apprehend 33-year-old Ricardo Ruiz after capturing him simply exterior the door of his house. (Body from physique cam footage/ Berkeley Police)
Earlier within the incident, video appeared to seize Ruiz yelling at an officer whereas pointing some object.
After the capturing, “Ruiz went back into the apartment and later collapsed on the ground outside the now-open steel door,” police mentioned of their assertion that accompanied the video. “A woman exited the apartment and kneeled down next to Ruiz. Officers moved in, got the woman to safety, and two trained SWAT medics began rendering aid to Ruiz.”
Police mentioned the lady was an acquaintance.
Berkeley Fireplace Division paramedics handled Ruiz and rushed him to a hospital.
Investigators recovered a shotgun loaded with slugs and a high-powered air rifle loaded with steel pellets from the scene, police mentioned. They added that Ruiz pointed the air rifle at officers.
This incident is being investigated by the Berkeley Police Division’s Murder Division and Inside Affairs. Per customary protocol, the Berkeley Police Division notified and consulted with the workplaces of the Alameda County District Lawyer and the Lawyer Common concerning this incident.
Ruiz was later launched from the hospital and booked into county jail.
On April 18th, the Alameda County District Lawyer’s Workplace filed 17 felony prices in opposition to Ruiz. They embody one rely of assault with a lethal weapon prone to trigger nice bodily damage on a peace officer, 12 counts of exhibiting a firearm within the presence of an officer and 4 counts of illegal firearm exercise.
The air rifle, backside, was loaded with steel pellets and the shotgun was loaded with slugs. Each weapons had been prepared to fireside in line with Bekeley Police. (Body from video/ Berkeley Police Division)
In accordance with courtroom information, he has not but entered a plea to the fees and is being held with out bail at Santa Rita Jail pending a bail listening to Could 9.
Ruiz, who additionally goes by the title Rick Fuze, is also charged for allegedly activating a stun gun in March throughout a protest at a Tesla dealership March 22. He was arrested throughout a protest that includes about 175 individuals on the 4th Road Tesla dealership in Berkeley. Authorities mentioned he was the lone counter protester who approached the group on a bicycle.
Nobody was struck by the stun gun and Ruiz claimed he was performing in self protection. He was charged April 21 with a misdemeanor rely of exhibiting a lethal weapon. He’s being held in lieu of $5,000 in that case and has but to enter a plea, courtroom information present.
To observe the video, go to https://youtu.be/9Na5u_NuqbA. Viewer discretion is suggested.
Initially Revealed: Could 7, 2025 at 8:25 AM PDT
