Investigation Underway After Police Officers Shot Anastacio Meneses in Oxnard Near Restaurant by Saviers Road and Pleasant Valley Road
OXNARD, CALIFORNIA (May 10, 2026) – A man identified as Anastacio Meneses was injured in an Oxnard police shooting at a property near Saviers Road and Pleasant Valley Road.
Ventura County officials are saying that the incident occurred around 12:10 PM on Monday, April 20. Oxnard police officers responded to a call about a male suspect who was in possession of a machete.
When officers arrived at the scene, they made contact with Anastacio Meneses inside of a restaurant. Police officers were able to evacuate multiple patrons inside the restaurant.
However, two employees were not able to be evacuated. The man involved in the incident allegedly grabbed the machete and raised it before an officer-involved shooting took place.
Officers used a K9 officer to eventually disarm the man. Anastacio Meneses was apprehended and provided medical assistance before being taken to the hospital.
A full investigation into the Oxnard police shooting remains ongoing at this time.
Liability for Oxnard Police Shootings
Police officers in Oxnard have a legal obligation to use the least amount of force necessary for any given encounter. A department can be liable for the excessive force of their officers. According to 42 U.S. Code § 1983, every person who, under the color of law, deprives someone of their rights afforded under the Constitution, shall be liable to the injured party in an action at law. Police officers should take several measures if they suspect that the person they’re dealing with may be in the midst of a mental health crisis.
- Request backup
- Calm the situation
- Avoid physical contact
- Determine if the suspect is taking medication
- Acknowledge the suspect’s feelings
- Not make any threats
If police officers failed to take reasonable measures to de-escalate an encounter and avoid using deadly force, this could serve as evidence of negligence. In particular, police officers may have failed to follow a safety protocol promulgated by their department. When considering whether or not any specific use of force was excessive, courts will examine the circumstances leading up to the use of force. Even if an officer’s use of force seemed reasonable in the moment, it may not have been, given alternative decisions that they could have made.
Steps to Take After Oxnard Police Shootings
Sadly, a large portion of police shootings involve suspects who were struggling with a serious mental health issue. According to the Public Policy Institute of California, “More than four in ten people treated for non-fatal gunshot wounds from a police encounter were diagnosed with a mental health condition, an alcohol- or substance-related disorder, or both.” Multiple steps should be taken after any person is injured in a police shooting.
- Any person who may have witnessed the incident should be interviewed as early as possible while their memories are still fresh.
- All of the body camera footage from responding officers should be collected and preserved.
- The actions of police officers leading up to the encounter should be scrutinized.
- Victims of police brutality should carefully consider their legal options with a team experienced in constitutional claims.
It can be difficult to know what to do after being injured in a police encounter. Victims are often left with lasting injuries that impair their ability to work or perform daily tasks. To make matters worse, police departments will never accept responsibility if their officers seriously injure or kill someone. This is why it’s so important that these incidents are investigated by an outside source.
Investigating Oxnard Police Shootings
We at Carrazco Law extend our best wishes to Anastacio Meneses and his family as he continues to recover. Any person who may have more information about what happened should reach out to investigators. There needs to be a thorough investigation into what happened. Many questions remain unanswered at this time.
Do you need more information about an Oxnard police shooting? Our team of experienced civil rights advocates is here for you. We are committed to helping victims understand their rights and holding law enforcement agencies fully accountable for their misconduct. Whether you just have legal questions or need a free, independent investigation into the unique facts of any case, we’re here to serve your needs. You can reach out to us anytime at (800) 541-3244.
