Posted by vae4usc on June 3, 2008 at 2:34 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Here we go again....

Posted by AngryYouth on June 3, 2008 at 2:48 p.m.

(This thread was removed by the site staff.)

Posted by imp9824 on June 3, 2008 at 3:31 p.m. (Suggest removal)

If you run from the police, you deserve to be shot.

Posted by FedUp on June 3, 2008 at 3:36 p.m. (Suggest removal)

more city funds being wasted defending someone who was doing their job. scumbag lawyers like this should be disbarred, when cases like this get thrown out.

Posted by FedUp on June 3, 2008 at 3:36 p.m. (Suggest removal)

more city funds being wasted defending someone who was doing their job. scumbag lawyers like this should be disbarred, when cases like this get thrown out.

Posted by FedUp on June 3, 2008 at 3:36 p.m. (Suggest removal)

more city funds being wasted defending someone who was doing their job. scumbag lawyers like this should be disbarred, when cases like this get thrown out.

Posted by BeaHappi on June 3, 2008 at 3:48 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Didn't this guy have a knife or something with him? Or some sort of weapon? I thought the original story mentioned something of that nature.

I think that Mr. Barreras had drug problems which is probably why he was trying to steal. I wonder if his mom paid this much attention to him when he was alive.

Posted by whatever on June 3, 2008 at 3:48 p.m. (Suggest removal)

All these low life's see is dollar signs and it is sickening. This mother wants to buy a home and get rich off of tax payers. If any jury gives her anything, you better start trying to change the rules. She deserves nothing. She raised a low life and now she wants someone to pay her for raising a scum.

Posted by BeReal on June 3, 2008 at 3:56 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Never anything positive to say! It takes one to know one. Why do you feel the need to judge and criticize. Do you not have anything better to do? Yuk!!!!! These comments are useless and a waste of time!

Posted by FedUp on June 3, 2008 at 4:39 p.m.

(This thread was removed by the site staff.)

Posted by UdontKnowMe on June 3, 2008 at 4:56 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Its definitely sad to see these deranged comments toward the mother of a victim, and to an individual who is no longer here. I remember this story, and in my opinion the circumstances did not justify the shooting of the individual.

Posted by mamaof2 on June 3, 2008 at 5:21 p.m. (Suggest removal)

he shouldnt have killed him, he didnt deserve to die just for breaking into a car. cops should save there bullets for all the murders and rapist out there.

Posted by siete on June 3, 2008 at 5:25 p.m. (Suggest removal)

always negetive, negetive, negetive comments...i bet if you morons would be in the mother's shoes you'd be singing a different toon...

Posted by bugmenot on June 3, 2008 at 5:42 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Salinas was driving his patrol car near Fifth and G streets in Oxnard when he spotted Barrera attempting to break into a pickup truck, [OPD spokesman] Keith said this week. Salinas got out of his car and chased Barrera about a block and a half down Fifth, almost to Hobson Way, police said. Some kind of confrontation ensued there, and Salinas shot Barrera, who had a knife, Keith said.

ORIGINAL ARTICLE: http://www.venturacountystar.com/news...

Posted by bugmenot on June 3, 2008 at 5:43 p.m. (Suggest removal)

i distinctly remember making this comment the day of the original article and it still stands...

no mercy for thieves.

Posted by kelly13 on June 3, 2008 at 6:34 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I would like to see the person bringing the law suit against the city or police department be responsible for all court cost and attorney fees for the city if they loose. I doubt they would ever collect but if it wasn't free to try and get rich and might cost them something, they might have second thoughts.
The minute I read this story in the paper originally I knew they would turn around and sue as soon as possible. We all did. We saw this coming.
What a waste of time and money. The officer was doing his job. And doing it well. For those who say the police shouldn't shoot someone for just a burglary, how are you supposed to know in a split second what the background is on the idiot assulting you? Next we should hear from the really stupid people who say "couldn't the officer have just shot him in the hand or something?"

Posted by ed1pfa on June 3, 2008 at 6:43 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Bugmenot and Hamskid,
Ditto!

Posted by ed1pfa on June 3, 2008 at 7:08 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Badbob,
I concur.

Posted by Ventura22 on June 3, 2008 at 8 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Burglarizing a vehicle at 3am + Run from the police + carrying a knife + confrontation + fail to follow commands = dead criminal. There should be very little discussion or investigating here. I highly doubt anyone will find an officer that would have reacted differently under those circumstances. I would have shot him too.
While any death is unfortunate, his(burglar) actions led to this. It is what it is. I understand the pain his mother is going through BUT her son did this to himself with or without the help of her upbringing. The pain of embarrasment from raising a child who ends-up a criminal is shame enough for her and the derogatory remarks are unnecessary.
The city should not be paying anyone atonement money for simply doing it's job of protecting us from criminals. They are wasting enough funds and resources as is from investigating the case for this long simply to appease a small group of sympathizers/activists. This won't change the fact that an officer killed a criminal caught in the act while doing his job.

Posted by desdave on June 3, 2008 at 8:33 p.m. (Suggest removal)

The original article when this happened said the guy had a knife. Another example of a criminals family trying to cash in. And of course his family will saw what a great guy he was, trying to get his life together. Ya right. What a shame that our tax dollars have to go to defending this type of money play.

Posted by Common_Sense on June 3, 2008 at 8:38 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Sue the deep pockets. There must be tort reform as the abuses by lawyers in situations such as this takes millions of dollars out of the public coffers (our money) to line the pockets of these people. It results in less money for roads, public safety, parks, etc. It also is a big reason for the unaffordable nature of health care, etc. Biggest problem is legislation is written by LAWYERS who obviously have a vested interest in creating legislation that benefits them. We are a self serving society and it is, unfortunately, leading to the social decay we can see all around us.....

As for this incident...I also remember the previous articles referring to the burglar having a knife....tragic but he made a decision and paid with his life for it.

Posted by Equitable_Enforcer on June 3, 2008 at 9:58 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Look into the background of Jenny Scovis. You won't have to go farther than court documents that are available on the internet to see that she has a history of stretching the truth in a big way. Nothing she says can be accepted as truth and any documents presented by her should be considered highly suspect.

Posted by Equitable_Enforcer on June 3, 2008 at 9:58 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Look into the background of Jenny Scovis. You won't have to go farther than court documents that are available on the internet to see that she has a history of stretching the truth in a big way. Nothing she says can be accepted as truth and any documents presented by her should be considered highly suspect.

Posted by imbetnonit on June 3, 2008 at 10:24 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Too bad his mother didn't teach him that being a criminal has it's downside.

Posted by rbreton59 on June 3, 2008 at 11:05 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Here we go again is right, once again this narrow minded ex-con here(many years past) only read the first 3 or 4 comments, I dont think the kid needed to be murdered, if i shot someone who begged for thier life I'd be on the Row right now. Cop or not that guy executed that kid! Now let those responsible pay. And where the hell do those of you come off saying the 22 year old kid had it coming. I never did any time I didnt have coming,I never blamed anyone but myself, but 4 times in the big house, belive you me, I've seen my share of Bad Cops, and C.O.s. Never said a word about it till now. I grew up in Ojai and that was back when they had their own police dept. When I was 17 they had 2 cars pull me and my 16 year old buddy over 4 cops in one car and two in the other, just past the high school north bound, on Maricopa Hwy. They pulled him out and then myself, proceded to handcuff him then me, and were beating the crap out of us, when thank God his parents were looking for us when they pulled up and saved our asses, they knew somthing was up cause it was my birthday, like I said I never blamed anyone else for my troubles, but 2 kids didnt have that coming. 6 cops on 2 minors. My name is Russell Breton and Jeff Cowgill was the lead officer on that assult. He was given the option to resign or be fired over that incident, he resigned and went to Simi Valley Police Dept. Where a few years later he was fired for cutting the ponytail off a handcuffed brother motorcycle rider, with a pocket knife. So when this ex-con sees the crap some people write it makes me speak my mind! And God Bless America and our President, and Never Forget Our Troops serving our Country not only in the war zones we hear about, but the ones we dont, my nephew was there, he told me, he said "Uncle Russell one day I want to kill myself, and the next I want to go back and kill terroists" God Bless him and all our Brothers and Sisters serving our Country. And may you bad officers serving our Justice System be made to pay.

Posted by UdontKnowMe on June 4, 2008 at 7:57 a.m. (Suggest removal)

So for all those ignorant cop sympathizers who agree with the Officer who shot and killed someone who was begging not to get shot: If a cop/officer breaks the law, we should be able to treat that person just like any other individual correct. Especially if they choose to use excessive force when it is not warranted, and "we fear for our life" then we should be able to act on instinct and protect ourself as this officer felt that he had no other option such as calling for back-up, or shooting the guy in the leg, or some other non-life threatening part of the body. Please don't say that officer is trained to kill, because that is a lousy excuse, Marine's are trained to kill. Cops go to training and spend time at the shooting range. He could have and should have acted very differently. Lets not forget that this officer did have some priors for this type of self justifying behavior.

Posted by Adam_Monroe on June 4, 2008 at 7:58 a.m. (Suggest removal)

This guy got what he deserved...if these kind of tactics were more acceptable (even from law-abiding citizens), I think thieves might think twice about trying to VICTIMIZE somebody else...remember, this piece of trash was breaking into somebody else's car and stealing somebody else's hard earned property!! Let's not martyr him please!

On the flip side, however, I will do as some other idiots on here have suggested and I will put myself in the criminal's mother's shoes:

"Gee...I sure hope that a police officer JUSTIFIABLY shoots and kills somebody that I care about...then I will never have to work another day in my life..."

Posted by Equitable_Enforcer on June 4, 2008 at 10:31 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Officer Salinas is a hero for chasing Barrera at that time of the morning, not knowing whether or not Barrera had a gun. Salinas was doing what we pay him to do ... and that is to protect and serve. He well demonstrated the courage it takes to carry out our mandate.

Throughout the deep pockets attempt, be alert as to the credibility of witnesses who have come forth and the credibility of lawyer Jenny Scovis. Poor thing has not yet found her pot of gold. She is hoping to find it in our pockets. Since she has quoted unnamed witnesses to the press, she has made herself fair game by those of us who seek tort reforms.

Posted by AinVentura on June 4, 2008 at 3:55 p.m. (Suggest removal)

What happened to being innocent until proven guilty? This cop played judge and jury to the alleged burglar by ultimately taking his life. When is death an appropriate sentence for a non-violent crime like burglary?

This case is appropriate to protect the rights of Americans. To ensure that each accused criminal be allowed their day in court. It does not mean that the burglar was not wrong, but cops need to be held to a certain standard, and the legal system is our check and balance on their actions. I would hate for a cop to make a mistake about one of you, and end up taking your life when you were actually innocent. We will never know what this guys story was. The Oxnard police department has come up in the news many times over the past year. They clearly need a check on the way that they operate.