Deputy Shoots Teen-Ager to Protect Partner

A Ventura County sheriff’s deputy shot a 15-year-old Camarillo youth armed with a crowbar who tried to sneak up on the deputy’s partner during a fight, police said Saturday.

The victim, whose name was not released because he is a juvenile, was taken to Pleasant Valley Hospital, where he was treated and released Saturday morning, the nursing supervisor said.

The incident began when two sheriff’s deputies responded to a call about several carloads of teen-agers disturbing the peace on Greenvale Drive about 9:30 p.m. Friday, Lt. Gary Markley said.

As the deputies got out of their unmarked police car, a shot was heard and the group scattered. Shortly after, the officers saw several teen-agers from the group fighting at the intersection of Bradford Avenue and Greenvale Drive, Markley said.

As the pair tried to break up the fight, Deputy Jeff Nettleton shot the juvenile in his abdomen when he saw the suspect, armed with a crowbar, approaching Deputy Tim Cowgill from behind, Markley said.

Markley did not know whether the deputies were in uniform or plainclothes.

The youth was not seriously injured by the bullet, he said. “My understanding is that the bullet grazed (the victim) and it didn’t actually enter the body cavity,” Markley said. “The wound certainly wasn’t as serious as it could have been.”

The youth was arrested on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon on a peace officer, a second minor was arrested on suspicion of battery, and a third was arrested on an outstanding warrant, Markley said.

The Sheriff’s Department is conducting an investigation into the shooting. Nettleton has been with the department for five years and Cowgill for 11 years, Markley said.