Multnomah Co. District Attorney's Office
Emergency Messages as of 11:00 am, Thu. Mar. 28
No information currently posted.
Subscribe to receive FlashAlert messages from Multnomah Co. District Attorney's Office.
Primary email address for a new account:

  


Manage my existing Subscription

News Release
Anita Marie Ruiz pleads guilty to domestic disturbance that resulted in an officer involved shooting - 09/11/19

September 11, 2019

Anita Marie Ruiz pleads guilty to domestic disturbance that resulted in an officer involved shooting

Today, Multnomah County District Attorney Rod Underhill announced that 35-year-old Anita Marie Ruiz appeared in Multnomah County Circuit Court and pleaded guilty to one count of unlawful use of a weapon following a domestic disturbance that resulted in a Portland Police officer firing a single round from his duty weapon.

The crime Ruiz pleaded guilty to, unlawful use of a weapon, is a Class C felony.

Sentencing on the matter has been set over one year.

While pending sentencing, the court ordered Ruiz to obey all laws and undergo a drug and alcohol evaluation and successfully complete any ordered treatment. If, at the time of sentencing, all of the court-imposed conditions are met, Ruiz’s charge will be given misdemeanor treatment and she will be sentenced to an additional 12 months bench probation with all the previously listed conditions

However, if Ruiz fails to comply with the court’s order, at any point pending sentencing, the state will expedite sentencing and pursuant to the plea agreement, she will be sentenced as a felon to 24 months of formal probation and could face potential additional jail sanctions.

This resolution was fashioned to reflect the seriousness of Ruiz’s conduct, her lack of prior criminal history and the role alcohol played in the event.

This investigation started on January 2, 2019 when Portland Police responded to a domestic disturbance in the 100 block of Northeast 147th Avenue in Portland, Oregon. When officers arrived, they contacted several of the people involved in the disturbance. While contacting the individuals, Ruiz retrieved a knife and advanced on the officers.

Portland Police Officer Onest Robert fired one round from his duty weapon. Ruiz was not injured and was taken into custody without further incident.

During the investigation, law enforcement learned that Ruiz was intoxicated when she got into a disturbance with a family member and subsequently kicked that person out from the apartment complex where the disturbance occurred. The family member and her significant other called police to ask for assistance retrieving property from within the apartment unit.

Law enforcement arrived and heard someone, later identified as Ruiz, yelling for help inside the apartment. Officers saw Ruiz involved in a physical altercation. When the fight broke up, Ruiz popped up, ran to the kitchen and retrieved a carving knife. She advanced on the officers in a threatening manner.

Officers repeatedly ordered Ruiz to drop the knife and to stop advancing. Ruiz did not comply continued to approach towards the officer, which is when Officer Robert fired his duty weapon. There were no reports of any injuries as a result of the use of force.

During this investigation, the Multnomah County grand jury reviewed the use of deadly force by Officer Robert. The grand jury determined the use of deadly force by Officer Robert was a lawful act of self-defense and/or defense of a third person, pursuant to Oregon law.

The grand jurors who reviewed this case are Multnomah County community members. Each grand juror was selected by Multnomah County’s Chief Criminal Judge from the regularly scheduled jury pool. This is a process set by Oregon’s Constitution.

Under Oregon law, given the facts of this particular case, the grand jury transcripts are exempt from public disclosure.

The Multnomah County District Attorney’s Office has no additional information to release.

#MCDA#


Contact: Brent Weisberg, Communications Director

Multnomah County District Attorney’s Office

Phone: 503.988.6567 | Email: Brent.Weisberg@mcda.us

View more news releases from Multnomah Co. District Attorney's Office.