A former Riverside County Sheriff’s deputy has been arrested on suspicion of murder of a man in 2014 in the city of Coachella.
Prosecutors say that Oscar Rodriguez shot and killed Luis Carlos Morin Jr. after an investigation showed that Rodriguez was involved romantically with Diana Perez, the mother of Morin’s children, according to a news release from the District Attorney’s office:
Morin was shot and killed on Jan. 27, 2014, when Rodriguez was attempting to arrest him on an outstanding warrant. Based on the information provided to us by the investigating agency, we initially cleared Rodriguez with a determination that the shooting was justified.
Not long after, Morin’s family filed a civil suit against Riverside County. During that lawsuit, we learned that Rodriguez was having an intimate relationship with Diana Perez, the mother of Morin’s children. Based on additional information, we realized this was not an officer-involved shooting review, it was a murder investigation.
The case was then reopened and after a lengthy and thorough investigation, evidence was presented to the Riverside County Grand Jury who indicted Rodriguez for murder and the use of a firearm causing the death of Morin. Rodriguez was arrested Thursday night.
The Grand Jury also indicted Diana Perez on one count of being an accessory to murder.
If convicted, Rodriguez could face up to life in prison. Perez could face up to three years in custody.
District Attorney Mike Hestrin at a Friday morning news conference stressed that “this is an isolated case due to the actions of a rogue deputy.”
“As the son of a law enforcement officer and a prosecutor for nearly 20 years, I know firsthand that the people who wear the badge are good people,” he said. “They love and protect this community each and every day and can be trusted, but when someone violates that trust and abuses his power, that person will be held accountable – just like anyone else. No one is above the law.”
