Man Accused Of Ramming Into Livermore Officer Charged With Murder

LIVERMORE, CA – A San Jose man accused of ramming his car into a Livermore police officer’s motorcycle in 2021 has been linked to the shooting of a man in San Jose, San Jose police said. Ricardo Padilla, 34, was charged with several violent crimes during the summer of 2021, which includes two stabbings and two other shootings, one of which was fatal.

In June 2021, Padilla was charged with attempted murder after allegedly driving toward a Livermore officer’s motorcycle, and then fleeing the scene. On June 22, an officer made a traffic stop on Isabel Avenue between I-580 and Portola Avenue for a vehicle code violation. Padilla allegedly reversed toward the officer so quickly that they left skidmarks on the road, according to a police report at the time. The motorcycle was disabled, and the officer sustained moderate injuries. He then fled the scene and drove recklessly through several red lights at over 100 mph, according to a complaint from the Alameda County District Attorney. He was charged with several felonies in connection with this incident, including attempted murder, reckless evasion of police, and evading an officer by driving opposite to traffic.

An associate told authorities that Padilla had borrowed the car, and wouldn't let him have it back because it was involved with a 'hit and run with police in Dublin', according to the complaint. He later returned it with "major rear-ended damage."

Padilla is now wanted in connection with the murder of 43-year-old Samuel Torres, who went missing on July 4, 2021, and was later determined to be shot and killed. The San Jose Police Departments’ Missing Persons Unit, Assaults Unit, Gang Investigations Unit, Street Crimes Unit, Violent Crime Enforcement Team (VCET), and Crime Analysis Unit believe that Padilla is responsible for that murder, in addition to several other violent crimes around San Jose in 2021:

• A stabbing incident on May 9.
• An “unprovoked assault” on a man outside 7-11 on May 11.
• A stabbing incident on May 11 near Coyote Creek on May 11.
• The fatal shooting of Thomas Calamia on May 31.
• A June 22 shooting in which the victim survived and named Padilla as the suspect.
• On July 4, Padilla was contacted by officers near Coyote Creek. He allegedly attempted to open fire.

Padilla was arrested that day, and remains at the Santa Clara County Main Jail without bail. Anyone with information should contact Detective Sergeant Vallejo or Detective Harrington of the San Jose Police Department’s Homicide Unit by emailing 3810@sanjoseca.gov and/or 4365@sanjoseca.gov, or by calling 408-277-5283.