A woman who struck and killed a Vacaville police officer with her car has been charged with murder, and her defense attorney says she could face the death penalty.
Serena C.J. Rodriguez is accused of intentionally driving into Vacaville Police Officer Matthew Bowen on July 11 while he was driving with another vehicle, the California Highway Patrol said in a news release. The car stops at the traffic stop. Rodriguez allegedly tried to flee the scene but was caught by bystanders who witnessed the accident. She was initially booked on suspicion of drug-impaired driving but was ultimately charged with murdering a peace officer on Monday.
Bowen, 32, died in hospital. He is survived by his wife, two sons, parents and brother.
Rodriguez’s public defender, Elena, said: “We are disappointed that prosecutors have chosen to bring potential death penalty charges against a troubled young woman in this case, and we hope that the community will not rush into it while the investigation is ongoing. make judgments.
Rodriguez had previous run-ins with law enforcement in Placer County and had an outstanding bench warrant at the time of the crash, according to CBS affiliate KOVR.
In November 2022, prosecutors accused Rodriguez of intentionally flooding her apartment, the station reported. About a month later, she was found with a fixed blade in jail, leading to a felony charge, the outlet reported.
Rodriguez is scheduled to appear in Fairfield Court on Monday at 1:30 p.m.
A public memorial service for Bowen is scheduled for 10:30 a.m. Tuesday. Vacaville police announced they will share the service in a public livestream.
