Hollister
– Sgt. Mike Rodrigues was the sheriff’s deputy who shot an
unarmed Hollister man Sunday on Highway 156, according to two
county officials familiar with the case who asked to remain
unnamed.
Hollister – Sgt. Mike Rodrigues was the sheriff’s deputy who shot an unarmed Hollister man Sunday on Highway 156, according to two county officials familiar with the case who asked to remain unnamed.
Rodrigues had his 11-year-old daughter in the patrol car – a possible violation of department policy – at the time of the shooting. On Monday, Sheriff Curtis Hill confirmed that the daughter was in the patrol car and said her presence is part of the investigation into the shooting.
Rodrigues could not be reached Thursday at his home or his parents’ home. The deputy is the son of former San Benito County Supervisor Ron Rodrigues.
The president of the local chapter of the League of United Latin American Citizens said Thursday that the organization contacted the American Civil Liberties Union and the Civil Rights Coalition in Monterey about the shooting.
“We are sending a letter to the sheriff of San Benito County and the District Attorney’s Office,” LULAC President Mickie Luna said. “We’re calling for a full investigation.”
Hill said Monday that a 25-year veteran deputy shot a combative and aggressive 29-year-old Israel Guerrero after Taser gun shocks and a baton strike failed to subdue the man. Guerrero died Sunday after being taken to Hazel Hawkins Memorial Hospital, but a cause of death has not been determined, Hill said. Rodrigues is on paid administrative leave.
Rodrigues has worked for the sheriff’s office since Dec. 1, 1981, according to San Benito County Superior Court documents.
As to Rodrigues’ involvement in the shooting, Hill cited California Government Code in declining to release the deputy’s identity.
“I’m not going to acknowledge who my deputy was involved in this incident,” Hill said.
Hill has referred to a section of the Peace Officers Procedural Bill of Rights Act that states he cannot “cause the public safety officer under interrogation to be subjected to visits by the press or news media without his or her express consent nor shall his or her home address or photograph be given to the press or news media without his or her express consent.”
Hill said his office continues to investigate whether the deputy followed proper policies and procedures. He added that he wants investigations to be transparent.
“We have a moral and legal obligation to get that information out there,” Hill said.
Preliminarily, according to witness statements, the shooting “has all the appearances of being handled well,” Hill said. Since Tuesday, the office has interviewed up to six citizens who witnessed the incident, Hill said.
District Attorney Candice Hooper, whose office will determine whether the shooting was justified, said her investigation also continues. Hooper did not know when the investigation will be finished.
“I don’t know how far along (the investigator) is on it,” Hooper said.
Guerrero was shot in the stomach after a Taser gun and baton failed to subdue him, deputies said. Another deputy stunned Guerrero with a Taser gun and sprayed him with pepper spray before taking him into custody, deputies said.
Deputies found methamphetamine and a methamphetamine pipe in the car Guerrero was driving, Hill previously told the Free Lance.
Hill would not say specifically what crimes Guerrero may have committed.
“There were a number of things going on out there that were potential felonies,” Hill said.
Guerrero’s family members declined to comment Thursday when reached at their home.
