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Oxnard officer grilled during assault trial
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More from CourtsA defense attorney on Tuesday hammered Oxnard police officer Denise Shadinger about details surrounding an incident last year when her then-live-in boyfriend, a former Oxnard police officer, barricaded himself for several hours in their Ventura home.
Shadinger testified all day Monday and until Tuesday afternoon in the trial of Robert Perez Jr., 35, who is accused of holding her against her will and assaulting her with a gun.
Perez's lawyer, Mark Pachowicz, spent hours cross-examining Shadinger about the troubled relationship between herself and Perez, who have accused each other of infidelity.
On July 29, 2007, the Ventura Police Department's SWAT team and other officers were dispatched to the couple's house after Shadinger told a 911 dispatcher that Perez threatened to kill officers — an allegation that Perez denies.
He is accused of barricading himself in the residence with a handgun, gas mask, bulletproof vest and an assault rifle after Ventura police responded to a report of a domestic dispute at the home.
The two started arguing around 8:30 a.m., Shadinger said. Perez surrendered to police about 7:20 p.m. outside the home in the 10000 block of Candytuft Street.
He is charged with assault with a firearm, false imprisonment by violence, three counts of dissuading a witness from reporting a crime, battery and resisting arrest.
During cross-examination, Pachowicz tried to portray Shadinger as a woman who has ulterior motives and a selective memory when it comes to recalling events.
Pachowicz questioned why Shadinger didn't run out of the house or keep walking once she was out in the driveway by herself. Also, he said, she could have called for help from a radio in a police car that she used for work that was parked in her garage. Shadinger also could have pushed a security button inside the couple's home that would have alerted a private security firm, the attorney said.
Shadinger said she wasn't thinking and had other concerns.
Pachowicz kept trying to ask a series of questions pertaining to a relationship that Shadinger had with an Oxnard police officer whom she called several times after the July 29 incident.
During this line of questioning, prosecutor Andrea Tischler repeatedly objected. Most of the objections were sustained by Ventura County Superior Court Judge Alan Steele.
This prompted Pachowicz to protest while the jury was out on break. He told the judge the questions were meant to explore Shadinger's motives and impeach her credibility.
Pachowicz said she was having a close personal relationship with the other officer and called eight times after the July 29 incident. One call lasted an hour and 27 minutes, Pachowicz told the judge.
"It does go to the credibility," Pachowicz said.
Steele said he will "protect credible and reasonable" testimony. However, he said: "We are not going to dirty up this trial by innuendo."
The judge said Pachowicz should present witnesses to impeach a person's credibility on the stand, as opposed to innuendo.
Posted by Hueneme_girl29 on July 23, 2008 at 7:15 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Sometimes these former cops wig out -
my brother in law's best friend was killed Sunday by an x-cop- this was up north - he was dating the x- cops, x- wife, went to the house to help her gather some of her things- and the x-hub/x-cop came out and shot him in the head. This world, whether it be Ventura County, or another county, is turning so scary to live in.
Posted by 805m0mma on July 23, 2008 at 8:02 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Totally agree, Hueneme_girl29. It makes me sad to think my children have to grow up with all this BS going on every which way they turn...either my parents were very good about sheltering me from this BS that goes on in the real world or it was not this bad then!
Posted by rebel123 on July 23, 2008 at 8:42 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I'm baffled by this article. How does impeaching the witness' credibility mitigate the fact that this guy barricaded himself in the house with weapons? Is it somehow her fault?
Posted by juniormafia_ny on July 23, 2008 at 8:44 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Grilled, huh? well done? Oh what a tangled web we weave.
Posted by oxnard40 on July 23, 2008 at 8:47 a.m. (Suggest removal)
This guy is a jerk. As a "Peace Officer" you would think they would know how to maintain the peace.
Posted by Hueneme_girl29 on July 23, 2008 at 8:52 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Sizzzzzzzzle.....
Posted by sugaNspice on July 23, 2008 at 9:30 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Trust me, I realize cops are human just like the rest of us...but com'on...reading stories like this doesnt help the community put their confidence in the PD that they are capable of protecting us and keeping us safe.
Posted by Jacksprat on July 23, 2008 at 10:36 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Police have a problem in dealing with personal problems. They are trained to handle them not the way they should be. They go to a house with a demostic problem and they get caught in the middle of a big fight, between two or more people who have lost all reason. So when they have these problem and loose all sense of reason, the sitution becomes worse, because they feel they are right. So now we have a trial that never should have happened if these two would have put their cop ego on hold and gone another way. Feel sorry for any kids caught in the middle of these things.
Posted by iluvSP on July 23, 2008 at 11:40 a.m. (Suggest removal)
From my personal experiences, cops are the shadiest. I was pepper sprayed by SPPD (for breaking up a fight) and when they took me to the station they stood around in a circle laughing and telling me to find the bucket of water as I crawled around the floor gasping for air. Another time, my friend was sitting in front of his house and an off duty SPPD pulled up and beat the crap out of him....no BS. Corrupt Over Paid Scum...COPS. We are not gang members or criminals either....cops are d**ks.
Posted by rjeremy on July 23, 2008 at 12:12 p.m. (Suggest removal)
One time I was on my way to church and my shoes didn't match my belt and a cop hit me upside my head............now that I think about it, I deserved it: )
Posted by lilmamma on July 23, 2008 at 12:22 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Bottom line is he did something wrong and he barricaded himself in the house. His credibility needs to be on trial not hers.
Posted by thegreatpumpkin on July 23, 2008 at 1:34 p.m. (Suggest removal)
rjeremy, you got what you had coming to you...
LMAO
Posted by h2odog on July 23, 2008 at 1:37 p.m. (Suggest removal)
This x-officer appears to have really blown a major fuse, one that he is going to regret for the rest of his life.
Can't wait to hear his side of the story or the one his lawyer is going to make up.
Posted by Comments on July 23, 2008 at 2:35 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Gimme a break! Perez's defense has got nothing better so he goes after the woman's character. Who cares if she was seeing one (or 10) other cops on the side? It may make her sleazy, but it's immaterial to this case. It certainly wouldn't excuse any of his actions.
Posted by juniormafia_ny on July 23, 2008 at 2:48 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Comments, BUT it could be considered a crime of passion... which I believe would be the lesser conviction.
Posted by george1234 on July 23, 2008 at 3:34 p.m. (Suggest removal)
"iluvSP" I know that jails have cameras in them. So if your story is true, lets see the tape. I'll bet thousands of dollars that you're full of it. And the off duty cops just beat you up do they? Give me a break. I've been around Santa Paula a long time. The only people that get touched by the cops are the scum bag criminals...and it appears to be in line. Save your BS stories. Did mommy not hug you enough when you were a kid? And what were you doing in a fight in the frist place? Sound like the pepper spray was put to good use!
Posted by sugaNspice on July 23, 2008 at 3:58 p.m. (Suggest removal)
"Crime of passion" defense is typically used in cases of murder or attempted murder...non of which the defendant is being charged with. Just thought I'd put it out there.
Posted by sparks240 on July 23, 2008 at 4:43 p.m. (Suggest removal)
"Oxnard officer grilled during assault trial". BBQ'd pork!
Posted by peterpan11 on July 23, 2008 at 10:51 p.m.
(This thread was removed by the site staff.)
Posted by 86thedrama on July 24, 2008 at 5:23 p.m. (Suggest removal)
its obvious that there are lots of lies and deception throughout this whole thing. If nothing else, it shows this is a lot of "he said - she said." And based off that, how can you trust enough to put anyone away? so far looks like only one person has had to deal/take responsibility and others have been going about there business. be interesting to see how it all plays out once all witnesses have come forward and all testimony is heard. Feel bad for Coe's wife - ouch. Did Shandinger really help him get a k9? This whole thing is crazy deep.
Posted by peterpan11 on July 24, 2008 at 8:01 p.m.
(This thread was removed by the site staff.)
Posted by 86thedrama on July 25, 2008 at 7:43 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Coe has her old dog? what does that mean? She is a K9 and he wanted to be one? Ha ha-maybe Coe is the puppet master of it all. This is like that Kevin Bacon game-only its six degrees of separation from BS.The courts will have to hire a special artist to draw all the connecting lines and keep it straight.Sounds like with all the surplus crap - no one's word is good. Everyone has dirt on their hands. The only way to believe any story is if it is on tape!
Posted by Blahmamma on July 25, 2008 at 8:33 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I just noticed most of the comments are by the same 3 people. Instead of sitting online waiting for a new idea to pop in your head why dont you get up and go wash your A$$. Do you cops really have nothing better to do? Oh wait... Your all OPD never mind.
Posted by breathe01 on July 25, 2008 at 3:57 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Seriously Blahmamma I have to agree with you.....easy for these three people to gossip, lie, and start rumors when hiding behind a screen name........the only thing factual is that names of two of the people involved in this incident. itsagroovythang, peterpan11, 86the drama must be the old maids that live in the shoe...they don't have lives and this is all they can do......
Posted by breathe01 on July 25, 2008 at 6:10 p.m. (Suggest removal)
It is no wonder that women don't want to report when they are a victim of spousal abuse or rape....they get tried in the media and made to feel like they are to blame for what happened....and with both people being cops in this case...no doubt the "good'ol boy club" will stand up and defend the man while bashing the woman......
Posted by 86thedrama on July 26, 2008 at 7:23 a.m. (Suggest removal)
wow! I posted two comments/questions and got called an old maid, a cop and told I should wash my A$$. By the way -very witty Blahmamma using dollar signs for the "s" twice. Yes-you are just so clever. Hmmm. Everyone is so sensitive. Breathe01 was so overwhelmed she came back just a few hours after her first comment to post again. You are all so cute. I bet if all the names were revealed - you all already know each other. All the blahmammas, 805momma, lilmommas, old maids and groovey peterpans! Blog war! Well, this was fun. Hugs and kisses to you all! I hope all sides are heard and everyone gets a fair chance. xoxoxoxxxooo
Posted by Blahmamma on July 28, 2008 at 10:50 a.m. (Suggest removal)
So if we all know eachother why dont you come out behind the screen name. We can all meet for coffee and you can run your mouth bout all the things you THINK you know?
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