Sheriff's deputy arrested for destroying evidence, filing false report
Richard Barrios, 28 years old, of Camarillo, California. (Ventura County Sheriff's Office)
THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. - A Ventura County Sheriff's deputy was arrested Friday afternoon for destroying evidence and filing a false report, the Sheriff's Office said.
28-year-old Deputy Richard Barrios of Camarillo was taken into custody following an investigation into an incident on Nov. 12, 2019, during which he arrested a woman for suspicion of being under the influence of a controlled substance, according to authorities.
The Ventura County Sheriff's Office says Barrios requested a urine sample from the woman, which showed a negative result for the presence of a controlled substance, but then he discarded the urine sample and wrote in his report that the individual had not provided a urine sample.
Approximately two hours later, another deputy at the Camarillo patrol station where the woman was being held, got another urine sample from the woman and again tested negative for the presence of a controlled substance, the Sheriff's Office said.
The woman was then released without being booked into jail.
On April 10, Barrios was arrested for one felony count of destroying evidence and one felony count of filing a false report. He was booked at the East County Hail Facility in Thousand Oaks.