Details given on Sept. 16 officer-involved shooting

By Doug Spoon, Editor

The Menifee Police Department officer in a Sept. 16 officer-involved shooting has been named and the investigation of the incident continues, authorities said.

The incident occurred after officers responded to an apartment complex in the 27700 block of Aspel Road in response to a call regarding a male banging on an apartment door and walls, shouting profanities and creating a disturbance, according to a Menifee PD news release. The original report stated that a male answered the door holding a handgun and an officer-involved shooting occurred, but no further details were given other than no one was injured.

A follow-up news release on Thursday stated that officer William Flores, fearing for his safety, fired at the suspect after the suspect did not immediately drop the gun. There is no report of the suspect firing his gun.

The officer-involved shooting is being investigated by the Riverside County Force Investigations Detail, which includes members of the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department and the Riverside County District Attorney’s Office. Menifee Police Department Detectives are also assisting with the investigation. Per department policy, the officer has been placed on paid administrative leave.

According to Thursday’s news release, the department will release a Critical Incident Debrief video of the shooting within 45 days of the incident date.

The man answering the door, identified as Robert Arres, 19, of Menifee, was arrested on felony charges related to possession of a non-serialized and unregistered firearm. Arres was released on bail Sept. 18 and has a Dec. 16 court date, according to jail records.