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Ventura teen shot by officer to be charged as adult
Felony assault among charges
STORY TOOLS 
More from Crime and CourtsA 16-year-old Ventura resident who was shot after allegedly driving a stolen vehicle at a police officer will be tried in adult court, authorities said Tuesday.
Prosecutor Anne Spillner said Anthony James Smith is being charged with felony assault, driving a stolen vehicle and felony assault with a deadly weapon, a car.
Smith, who made his first court appearance Monday, agreed to postpone his arraignment until May 23, the prosecutor said.
The teen was shot April 30 by Officer Kyle Robinson of the Ventura Police Department after the officer stopped him for traffic violations in the 700 block of South Hill Road in Ventura.
A check of the license plate showed the sports utility vehicle had been reported stolen April 24 from east Ventura.
According to police and witnesses, as Robinson was standing outside his patrol car the teen accelerated the SUV toward the officer and rammed his patrol car.
Fearing for his safety, Robinson fired his weapon.
Smith drove away, and the SUV hit several parked vehicles on Thille Street.
He was later found hiding in bushes at a nearby business complex, police said.
Smith had been shot once in the chest. He was taken to Ventura County Medical Center in serious condition. The officer was not injured.
On Sunday, Smith was released from the hospital. He is being held at the Ventura County Juvenile Hall.
Spillner declined to comment on whether Smith had a criminal history.
The incident began when Robinson saw the SUV driving without headlights and making an illegal turn on Victoria Avenue at 9:35 p.m., according to Ventura police Lt. David Wilson.
Robinson, a five-year veteran of the police force, fired his semiautomatic handgun at the youth four times, Wilson said.
Posted by tom on May 7, 2008 at 5:38 a.m. (Suggest removal)
May the wheels of justice grind hard on this young fellow!
Posted by wynonarose on May 7, 2008 at 6:29 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I don't understand the wording of the headline here. Why is the focus of the headline on the teen being shot by a policeman, instead of the teen trying to ram a policeman with a vehicle?
Posted by steveb36701 on May 7, 2008 at 6:43 a.m. (Suggest removal)
wynonarose, think about it. This is the Star we're dealing with here. Given the opportunity, they will usually make the criminal out to be the victim.
Posted by steveb36701 on May 7, 2008 at 6:46 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Look at the headline from yesterday; "Teen shot by officer now in Juvenile Hall". Sort of makes it seem like he went to jail for getting shot.
Posted by mmshoot on May 7, 2008 at 6:55 a.m. (Suggest removal)
It can also be noted that the cop fired four shots while the 16 year old, in possession of a stolen vehicle, was trying to hide in the bushes. He did not succeed. One of the bullets hit his chest.
Posted by Ms_California on May 7, 2008 at 7:31 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I completely agree with this decision.
Posted by Pogmothoin on May 7, 2008 at 7:50 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I think they use the "he almost ran over me" line way to many times, but hey I wasn't there so who knows.
Posted by mmshoot on May 7, 2008 at 8:07 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I don't know either, Pogmothoin. What I have to ask myself is: "What were they thinking at the time of the criminal activity."
My guess is that the kid was saying to himself: "I have done this before so I will get away with it anyway."
The cop, a five year veteran of the Police force, was thinking: "Hey, that kid just tried to kill me. I better go get him before he tries to kill more people."
Eventually, the juvenile tried to hide. The policeman tried to find him. The policeman accomplished his task and his duty by finding the perpetrator of the crime who was trying to hide from his captor.
After a show of force, the juvenile was injured. Because he is not dead he has an opportunity for retribution, rehabilitation and self-actualization. The courts are trying him as an adult for the various crimes he committed.
As such, the juvenile should be tried as an adult. That is because the kid knew what he was doing was a crime and the policeman acted properly in detaining him.
Posted by steveb36701 on May 7, 2008 at 8:45 a.m. (Suggest removal)
"It can also be noted that the cop fired four shots while the 16 year old, in possession of a stolen vehicle, was trying to hide in the bushes."
The police officer shot at him and hit him while the 16yo was IN the vehicle DRIVING IT TOWARD THE OFFICER. He drove away, hit parked cars, and THEN abandoned the vehicle and was found hiding in the bushes. That statement by mmshoot sounds like it could have been written by a Star reporter.
Posted by PackFan02 on May 7, 2008 at 9:09 a.m. (Suggest removal)
That's what he gets for disrespecting and trying to injure a police officer.. And driving a stolen car.. Gee, I wonder where he got that?!
Posted by Tabitha_D on May 7, 2008 at 2:20 p.m. (Suggest removal)
tired as an adult and rightfuly so.
hhmmm, lets see, drving without headlights, illigeal turning, alluding an officef, attempted murder - of an officer no less, assult with a deadly weapon (and yes, vehicles are considered deadly weapons, especially in a case like this one), and oh yea, grand theft auto....all to say the least. Can anyone say screwed?
Posted by jmarshall on May 7, 2008 at 2:30 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I hope this child gets a jury who is less quick to jump to conclusions than most of the people who have been posting so far.
And to repeat, it still seems evident to me that he was not trying to kill an officer. He was trying to run away, and the officer fired four shots at him instead of moving to the side. Those shots could have been made at the tires of the SVU to prevent him from escaping or causing more damage as well.
Also, nobody has accused him of stealing a car, he was driving a stolen car, something he might not have been aware of.
Posted by steveb36701 on May 7, 2008 at 5:18 p.m. (Suggest removal)
jmarshall, what drugs are you taking?
Posted by sparks240 on May 7, 2008 at 7:20 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Drugs that put you out of touch with reality.
Posted by catlover on May 7, 2008 at 7:26 p.m. (Suggest removal)
jmarshall---go to the "suggestion box" at the local PD office, put in your suggestion as to how to protect the public...the next time a kid/adult driver rams their car into police cars, the cops can move to the side in order for the suspect to run off. While they run off evading police, they can put in danger thousands of drivers and innocent people in the streets.
That should go well for Public Safety. Since you are so pro-criminal, you might also want to volunteer at the local jail to help those poor fellows out.
Posted by AnnaWhaat on May 8, 2008 at 8:33 a.m. (Suggest removal)
mmshoot Very well said, I agree!
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