Costa Mesa cop accused of filing a fraudulent workers’ compensation claim

ORANGE COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY PRESS RELEASE

Case # 15CF1637

Date: July 23, 2015

COSTA MESA POLICE DEPARTMENT OFFICER CHARGED FOR COMMITTING INSURANCE FRAUD AGAINST CITY OF COSTA MESA

SANTA ANA, Calif. – A Costa Mesa Police Department (CMPD) officer was charged today for committing insurance fraud by presenting a false insurance claim and making false material statements related to the claim. Ryan Patrick Natividad, 30, Corona, is charged with one felony count of insurance fraud and one felony count of making a fraudulent statement. If convicted, Natividad faces a maximum sentence of six years in jail. He is expected to be arraigned tomorrow in Department C-55, Central Justice Center, Santa Ana. The time is to be determined.

On Sept. 23, 2014, Natividad is accused of reporting a work-related injury to his employer CMPD. Natividad is accused of falsely claiming earlier in the day, he had struck his fist against a wall when attempting to prevent an arrestee from stumbling into the wall while escorting the arrestee from the patrol vehicle into jail. Natividad is accused of filing a fraudulent workers’ compensation claim. He was subsequently directed by CMPD to seek immediate medical attention.

The City of Costa Mesa internally investigated Natividad’s workers’ compensation claim and uncovered evidence contradicting Natividad’s account of how and when the injury occurred.

Deputy District Attorney Noor Hasan of the Insurance Fraud Unit is prosecuting this case.

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TONY RACKAUCKAS, District Attorney

Susan Kang Schroeder, Chief of Staff
Office: 714-347-8408
Cell: 714-292-2718