Shooting investigation could take up to six months





Authorities have released the name of the deputy who fired his weapon at a hit-and-run suspect on June 15 in Westlake Village.

Senior Dep. William Hutton, a veteran of the Ventura County Sheriff’s Department, shot Rogelio Gutierrez on Agoura Road near Lakeview Canyon Road because he was in imminent danger of being hit by the man’s car, according to police.

Police allege Gutierrez smashed into one patrol vehicle and attempted to reverse into another while trying to evade arrest.

The 33-year-old Gilroy resident is facing two felony counts of assault upon a peace officer, as well as misdemeanor charges of reckless driving and evading an officer.

Gutierrez spent four days receiving treatment for his wounds at Los Robles Hospital and Medical Center before being released into police custody.

The case is being investigated on multiple fronts.

The sheriff’s internal affairs department is conducting an administrative investigation, while the Ventura County district attorney’s office and TOPD major crimes unit conduct the criminal investigation, said Sgt. Eric Buschow, a Ventura County Sheriff’s Office spokesperson. The full investigation could take up to six months, the sergeant said.

“It’s a multipronged approach, and ultimately a decision on the legality of the shooting will be made once those investigations are completed,” he said. “The final report will come from the district attorney’s office. At that point, it will be made public.”

About 9 p.m. June 15, two sheriff’s deputies in separate patrol cars were searching the area of Lakeview Canyon and Agoura roads for a sedan that was involved in a hit-and-run collision on Westlake Boulevard.

One of the deputies spotted a gray Acura sedan, which was similar to the reported vehicle description, drive into the County Line Shopping Center that includes the Westlake Village Twin movie theater.

“( The deputy) pulled into the shopping center and saw the vehicle stopped in the driveway,” Buschow told the Thousand Oaks Acorn in June. “The vehicle started to drive away, and the deputy follows.

“The vehicle suddenly makes a left eastbound into the westbound lanes of Agoura Road. The deputy hasn’t even turned on his lights yet. It all happened in a matter of seconds.”

While attempting to escape on the wrong side of the road, the driver of the sedan accelerated intentionally and rammed a second sheriff’s car that was traveling toward him on Agoura Road, authorities said.

He then reversed his car toward Hutton, who was following him. Hutton got out of his patrol car and fired his gun several times at the driver, police said.

The man, who police say was Gutierrez, tried to drive away after being shot at.

But the other deputy responded by ramming his patrol car into the sedan and pushing it into the curb.

Authorities have not disclosed how many shots were fired or where on his body the driver was hit.

Gutierrez was arrested June 19.

The two deputies involved were placed on administrative leave for a week, which is standard procedure in officer-involved shootings.

“They’re back at work and doing quite well,” Buschow said.

Gutierrez, who is being held at Ventura County Jail in lieu of $110,000 bail, was due in court July 31 for an early disposition conference.



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