BRIEF: Costa Mesa officer accused of insurance fraud

July 24--A Costa Mesa police officer was charged Thursday with insurance fraud and making a fraudulent statement -- both felonies -- for lying about getting injured at work, according to the Orange County District Attorney's office.

Ryan Patrick Natividad, 30, of Corona, could receive a maximum sentence of six years in jail if he's convicted on both counts.

According to prosecutors, Natividad lied on Sept. 23 when he said he hurt his fist. He allegedly said the injury happened when he tried to stop an arrestee he was escorting from stumbling into a wall.

He then allegedly filed a fraudulent workers compensation claim for the incident.

The City of Costa Mesa conducted an internal investigation and found evidence contradicting Natividad's account, prosecutors said.

Natividad is scheduled to be arraigned in Orange Count Superior Court Friday.

A police official could not immediately say if Natividad is still working at the department.

-- Jeremiah Dobruck

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