The rapid gunfire startled residents and soccer players at Las Piedras Park, and Ruiz was apprehended when he was seen fleeing the area by a SPPD Officer, who pursued him on foot. A witness told officers that Ruiz had thrown something on top of a nearby carport, where investigators recovered a loaded 9mm handgun.His bail was set at $750,000 on various charges, ranging from multiple charges of attempted murder and obstructing an officer. Det. Velasco said that Ruiz, who has remained in custody since the “day of the incident,” would be sentenced in August.Considering the workload of SPPD officers, “Patrol did a very good job with the call, taking Ruiz into custody and having him identified that day. Officers recovered the weapon” that was matched to the crime by ballistic reports.“It was a fully occupied vehicle” that Ruiz fired upon, Det. Velasco noted. “Everyone inside was very fortunate” that more weren’t injured, and that the wounds that were inflicted were not fatal. “Overall, it was a really good job by patrol, and the follow-up investigation gave us really good results on this case.”
SPPD: Ruiz pleads guilty to assault with a deadly weapon that injured two
July 28, 2006
Santa Paula Police Department
A Santa Paula man is facing up to 12 years in a state prison for wounding two people last year when he fired on a passing vehicle that also contained children near soccer players in Las Piedras Park, according to a SPPD spokeswoman.
By Peggy KellySanta Paula TimesA Santa Paula man is facing up to 12 years in a state prison for wounding two people last year when he fired on a passing vehicle that also contained children near soccer players in Las Piedras Park, according to a SPPD spokeswoman. The shooting occurred on July 30, 2005, said Det. Michelle Velasco.Charles Anthony Ruiz, 22 of Santa Paula, pleaded guilty to assault with a deadly weapon and special circumstances based on his using a firearm in the commission of a crime. Shortly before 6 p.m. on a Sunday, Ruiz opened fired on a Tahoe traveling in the neighborhood of Las Piedras Park.When SPPD Officers responded to a separate report of a fight near the scene, they came upon the SUV in the middle of the 1300 block of Saticoy, its windows blown out and two injured adults in the front seat. The woman victim, 27 years old, received gunshot wounds to the throat and the right cheek. The 21-year-old male was shot in the biceps. The other passengers in the vehicle - three children riding in the backseat - were not wounded.
