Man shot and paralyzed by CHP officers near Toro Park found guilty of assault with a semi-automatic firearm

SALINAS, Calif. (KION-TV)- UPDATE OCT. 26, 2022, at 1:21 p.m.- On Wednesday, a jury convicted a 27-year-old man for assault with a semiautomatic firearm on a peace officer in a July 23, 2019 incident. according to Monterey County District Attorney Jeannine M. Pacioni.

Ari Gold, of Salinas, was found guilty of assault with a semiautomatic firearm on a peace officer (a felony), brandishing a firearm in the presence of a peace officer, driving under the influence of a drug and hit-and-run. He faces a maximum of 10 years and eight months in state prison at his sentencing hearing on Dec. 6.

On the day of the incident, Gold was in Monterey and had allegedly smoked a substantial amount of marijuana and meth and stole a truck while high to his grandmother's place on Estoque Place, in the Toro Park area.

Pacioni said that Gold was driving erratically on and off the road and almost collided with another vehicle on the road.

Gold crashed into a parked car to avoid that collision and fled the scene to his grandmother's house which is a violation of a condition of his misdemeanor probation.

CHP officers responded to the grandmother's house which neighbors identified.

When the CHP officers ran a background check on the stolen truck and the home, CHP dispatch
incorrectly informed the officers that the truck was not stolen, and the house did not have any prior
calls for service.

Gold's grandmother arrived at the home and told officers that she did not regonize the car in her driveway.

Pacioni said that is when officers went into the house at the request of the owner. Officers Kristi Cho

found Gold hiding behind a shower curtain in the master bathroom, while Officer Chris Weaver was just outside of the bathroom.

Pacioni said Gold quickly reached behind the shower curtain, outside of Officer Cho’s view, grabbed a loaded semiautomatic .45 caliber model 1911 handgun, and pointed it at Officer Cho. The handgun had a
live round in the chamber. The thumb safety was off, and the hammer was cocked.

Cho fired back began firing at Gold while she backed out of the bathroom entrance and
fell to the ground. Officer Weaver, hearing the shots and seeing Cho fall to the ground,
began firing through the wall of the bathroom, believing that Cho had been shot.

Cho continued to fire her weapon as she backed away to cover while still on the floor.

After a brief period of time, without warning or announcement, Gold rushed
out of the bathroom, still armed with the firearm, and was fired at by Officer Weaver.

The first few shots missed Gold, so he then rushed back into the bathroom. However, as Gold rushed back into the bathroom, Officer Weaver shot Gold in the upper spine which instantly paralyzed Gold below
the neck.

Gold testified in his own defense and alleged that he was sitting on the toilet of the bathroom when
Officer Cho opened the bathroom door.

Gold stated that upon seeing the officer, he immediately
threw his firearm to her, and the officers started shooting at him.

He testified he was paralyzed early in the shooting. He denied ever walking to the part of the bathroom where Officer Cho said she found him.

However, upon being confronted with multiple crime scene photographs which
showed his version of events was not possible, Gold at one point admitted that the events may not
have happened as he remembered.

Additionally, near the end of his testimony, Gold testified to a fact that directly contradicted his earlier testimony.

Pacioni said that Gold testified to a fact that directly contradicted his earlier testimony. When asked to explain the discrepancy, Gold admitted that he simply answered “yes” to a suggestive question from his attorney which he didn’t know the answer to, solely because it was his attorney making the suggestion.

Orginal Story

Man shot by CHP officers near Toro Park paralyzed, still in the hospital

A suspect shot by CHP officers near Toro Park in July was scheduled to be arraigned Wednesday afternoon, but his attorney said he could not appear because he is paralyzed and still in the hospital.

24-year-old Ari Gold was charged with felony assault with a semi-automatic gun on a peace officer.

Gold's prior probation was revoked, and the arraignment was rescheduled for Oct. 10.

On July 23, the CHP responded to a report of a reckless driver, followed by a report of a hit-and-run crash near Estoque Place and Portola Drive.

A witness saw the driver go into a house on Estoque Place, and when officers arrived, they said the homeowner permitted them to enter the house. The District Attorney's Office said an officer found Gold in a bathroom, and the officers fired their guns when he pointed one at an officer.