The San Benito County Sheriff’s Office is investigating Sgt.
Mike Rodrigues on allegations of rape, intimidation of a witness or
victim and two violations of a restraining order, Sheriff Curtis
Hill confirmed.
Hollister – The San Benito County Sheriff’s Office is investigating Sgt. Mike Rodrigues on allegations of rape, intimidation of a witness or victim and two violations of a restraining order, Sheriff Curtis Hill confirmed.
Hill would not detail the allegations against Rodrigues, a 25-year department veteran, but said that some of the suspected crimes might have been committed while on duty. The sergeant remains on paid administrative leave as the investigation continues, Hill said.
A Hollister Police Department captain also confirmed an investigation into a separate allegation against Rodrigues, but would not specify the suspected crime’s nature.
Rodrigues has not been arrested. Hill said he is waiting for the sheriff’s investigation to finish before making that decision.
Rodrigues was the deputy who shot an unarmed, drugged man in June and was later cleared of any criminal wrongdoing in the confrontation. But more recently two women, one his wife, have filed requests for restraining orders against Rodrigues, preventing him from carrying a firearm. They will be heard at the same time, San Benito County Superior Court Judge Harry Tobias ruled Tuesday.
Amber Cecena, the cousin of Sgt. Mike Rodrigues’ wife, Kristi Rodrigues, filed a restraining order request Aug. 28. Tobias Tuesday continued the court hearing for Cecena’s restraining order request against Rodrigues to Sept. 28, when fellow Judge Steven Sanders is scheduled to hear a restraining order request from Kristi Rodrigues. Tobias said the orders are related and should thus be consolidated.
“The threats against Ms. Cecena seem to be a message to the wife,” Tobias said in court Tuesday.
The delay also came after Rodrigues’ attorney, Amanda Pekin, requested 30 days to prepare a defense before the restraining order request could be heard.
“We are in the process of getting some further records to assist in his defense,” Pekin told the court Tuesday.
Meanwhile, Hill said the most recent allegations concern him.
“They’re serious allegations, and we’re going to be following through on them with clarity,” Hill said, of the Sheriff’s Office investigation, when reached on his cell phone Monday while in Sacramento.
A brief synopsis of four crime reports have been made available through the Sheriff’s Office Web site.
On Sept. 10, a deputy took a report of rape by force, a felony. The report stated the following:
“The victim stated she was raped and was not allowed to leave the residence. The suspect also threatened to kill the victim if she ever said anything.”
Hill confirmed that Rodrigues is suspected of intimidating a witness or victim, a misdemeanor. At 4pm Sept. 11, a sheriff’s deputy filed a report on the suspected crime that stated the following:
“The listed suspect called the victim per a third party and advised her to re-cant (sic) her statement to the sheriff’s department.”
On that same day, a sheriff’s deputy took a report at 4pm for a violation of a domestic violence prevention court order involving Rodrigues. At 12:15pm the next day, a sheriff’s deputy took another report for a violation of the same domestic violence prevention court order. The report stated the following:
“While I was at the victim’s residence conducting a welfare check the suspect called the residence in an attempt to speak with the victim, violating a domestic order,” the report stated.
Hollister police are simultaneously investigating Rodrigues on the possible felony. But police Capt. Richard Vasquez declined to disclose details.
The department was already investigating an Aug. 18 stalking incident that lists Rodrigues as a suspect.
District Attorney Candice Hooper said she can’t say if her office had received any crime reports on the allegations against Rodrigues. Hooper said her office is open to prosecution.
“If we have enough evidence to prove a crime, we will prosecute,” Hooper said.
The investigations are the latest in a turbulent summer for Rodrigues.
In addition to the restraining orders that restrict him from carrying a firearm, Rodrigues shot an unarmed man who later died from a drug overdose, the gun shot wound, shocks from a Taser gun, struggles with law enforcement and pepper spray, a forensic report concluded.
The Sheriff’s office reported that the man, 29-year-old Israel Guerrero, advanced aggressively toward Rodrigues and was unfazed by non-lethal force.
Hill said Rodrigues followed proper procedure, but violated office policy by having his 11-year-old daughter in the patrol car during the incident. Hooper said the shooting was legal.
