Napa Authorities Release Name Of Officer Who Shot Man During Surveillance Op
NAPA (CBS SF) -- The Napa County Sheriff's Office has identified the Napa police officer who shot a man in the chest during a surveillance operation on Tuesday as Eric Koford.
Koford, 29, is the son of former Napa County Sheriff Douglas Koford, sheriff's Capt. Leroy Anderson said.
Napa police Capt. Jeff Troendly said Eric Koford has been with the Napa Police Department for 4.5 years and has been with the Napa Special Investigations Bureau for a week or two.
The Napa County Sheriff's Office on Thursday released more details about the shooting.
Agents with the Napa Special Investigations Bureau had a 1991 Honda under surveillance in a parking lot off Gasser Drive in Napa around 8:10 p.m. Tuesday, sheriff's Capt. Tracey Stuart said.
The agents believed 37-year-old Pablo Ramirez, who was wanted for violating his probation for assault with a deadly weapon, was one of three occupants in the Honda and would be in possession of methamphetamine, Stuart said.
Agents had their guns pointed as they approached the Honda that had both passenger side doors open, Stuart said.
Koford approached the right front side of the Honda while two other agents covered the two other occupants, Stuart said.
Ramirez, the right front passenger, raised his hands, then lunged forward from the car and grabbed Koford's hands that were holding his service firearm, Stuart said.
Koford believed Ramirez was going to overpower him and take his firearm and he shot him once in the upper right chest, Stuart said.
Ramirez was taken to the Queen of the Valley Medical Center in Napa where he remains in critical condition.
Ramirez was in possession of methamphetamine, Stuart said. The driver of the Honda was arrested for a misdemeanor traffic warrant and was booked into jail, Stuart said. The other passenger in the Honda was released.
Koford remains on paid administrative leave, Anderson said.
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