Ventura – Perhaps it’s the advent of the current trends in “ride sharing” and the ubiquity of Uber and Lyft services for those in need of prompt, economical transportation that prompted Anthony Partida, a 43-year old resident of Ventura, to begin hailing drivers moving through one of Ventura’s busiest downtown intersections at the height of rush hour on March 9th.
On the other hand, Partida may have been simply been laboring under the delusional misapprehension that all private and public vehicles were at his disposal as evidenced by the fact that he approached a Ventura Police Department black-and-white patrol unit stopped at the traffic light and made a sincere attempt to enter the police car from the passenger side.
The man behind the patrol car’s wheel, Officer R. Nunez, reacted to Partida’s attempt to open the passenger door by verbally suggesting that Partida desist in that effort and remove himself from the roadway. According to the unnamed Ventura Police Department spokesman, Partida was undeterred and “reached inside the patrol car and tried to open it from the inside,” whereupon Nunez shouted at Partida who continued to refuse his lawful order by attempting entry into the vehicle.
At that point, “Nunez jumped out of his car and confronted Partida who then rushed Officer Nunez” and attempted to tackle him. As the two men tussled, Partida head-butted the uniformed officer, making forceful and aggressively violent contact with Nunez’s chin. Moments later, Nunez had Partida on the ground and restrained in handcuffs.
Once subdued and in custody, Partida explained his behavior by telling Nunez and other officers at the scene that he “needed a ride and had places to go.” The truth of the matter was that Partida only had one place to go: Ventura County Jail, where he was booked on charges of battery on a peace officer and violently resisting arrest.
Photo: Courtesy Ventura County Jail Booking
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