Violence Erupts At SoCal Restaurant As Police Shoot Machete-Wielding Man: Video

OXNARD, CA — Surveillance and body camera footage recently released by Oxnard authorities captures a violent exchange between officers and a man wielding a machete at a restaurant, which left the man suffering from several gunshot wounds and a police dog injured by the machete.

Officers responded shortly after noon on April 20 to Restaurant El Fortin in the 5000 block of Saviers Road after authorities received calls about 41-year-old Anastacio Meneses of Oxnard swinging the machete in the area, police said in a May 7 news release.

The officers found Meneses inside the restaurant and evacuated patrons, although two restaurant employees were unable to leave, according to police.

Officers directed Meneses to stand and move away from the machete, but after he stood, he lowered his hands and grabbed the weapon, flipping over a table and raising the machete, police said and video shows. As Meneses grabbed the machete and lifted the table, Officer Brandon Castillo fired three shots, striking Meneses and causing him to fall to the floor, according to police. Meneses then charged the officers with the weapon raised and Castillo fired another three shots, hitting him again, police said.

Meneses still had the machete, and officers sent in police dog Al to remove him from the restaurant, according to authorities. As the dog dragged him out of the business, Meneses waved the machete, striking the animal before he released the weapon, video shows, and was put in handcuffs, police said.

Meneses was taken to a hospital where he was treated for gunshots to his arms, hand and torso, according to police. As of last week, he remained at a medical facility, but upon release he is facing charges of assault with a deadly weapon, felony assault of a police dog and exhibiting a deadly weapon with intent to resist arrest, police said.

Al, the police dog, suffered a cut to his upper lip, but was treated at a veterinary clinic for minor injuries and has since returned to duty, according to police, who said no other officers were injured.

Castillo, who has worked for the police department for about two years, was placed on leave the afternoon of the incident but has since been cleared to return to his assignment, authorities said, adding he had not previously been involved in a police shooting.