Man Suspected Of Brandishing Gun At Menifee Cops Released On Bond

MURRIETA, CA — A 19-year-old man suspected of brandishing a loaded pistol at Menifee police officers investigating a disturbance, prompting one of them to open fire, was out of custody Monday after posting a $35,000 bond.

Robert Arres of Menifee was arrested and booked into the Byrd Detention Center on Friday night on suspicion of illegal possession of a loaded firearm, receiving stolen property and child endangerment.

Arres secured bail Sunday afternoon and was released from the Murrieta jail.

According to Capt. Dave Gutierrez of the Menifee Police Department, at about 9:50 p.m. Friday, patrol officers were sent to the 27700 block of Aspel Road, just south of McCall Boulevard, to investigate reports of a man banging loudly on an apartment door, shouting obscenities.

Gutierrez said the two patrolmen arrived within a few minutes and knocked on the door of the apartment where the disturbance was reported.

"A male opened the door and stood in the doorway," the captain said. "One of the officers observed the male holding a semiautomatic handgun in his right hand, at which point an officer-involved shooting occurred."

Arres was not struck by the gunfire, and neither lawman was injured, nor was anyone inside the apartment, according to Gutierrez. The suspect was taken into custody without further incident.

Gutierrez said the handgun was seized and was confirmed to be a "non- serialized and unregistered firearm."

The officer who opened fire was placed on paid administrative leave pending the outcome of an investigation. Gutierrez said the patrolman, whose identity was not disclosed, is a six-year law enforcement veteran and has been with the Menifee Police Department for just over a year.

The Riverside County Sheriff's Department's Force Investigations Detail is handling the inquiry into the shooting.

Background information on Arres was not available.