Henry K. Lee
San Francisco Chronicle
Copyright 2006 The Chronicle Publishing Co.
All Rights Reserved
A former Alameda County sheriff’s jail technician charged with fleeing the scene after his car struck and killed a California Highway Patrol officer was arrested on a drug violation after making bail, authorities said Wednesday.
Russell Rodrigues, 47, of Oakland faces felony hit-and-run charges in the death of Officer Brent Clearman, 33. Clearman died Aug. 6, a day after he was hit on the 66th Avenue on-ramp to Interstate 880. He had gotten out of his patrol car to investigate a minor crash.
Rodrigues was to have appeared in court Wednesday on the felony hit-and-run charge. But after posting $10,000 bail, he was arrested on a drug violation in Alameda on Friday, said Deputy District Attorney John Mifsud.
Rodrigues’ case was delayed until Friday because he is being held at John George Psychiatric Pavilion in San Leandro for undisclosed medical reasons, authorities said. Mifsud said he plans to ask that Rodrigues’ bail be increased because of the drug case.
A dozen uniformed CHP officers showed up for the scheduled hearing Wednesday in an Oakland courtroom.
Rodrigues was driving on a suspended license the night Clearman was killed and had uncleared violations for speeding, failing to stop at an intersection or crosswalk, failing to appear in court and driving without insurance, according to records with the state Department of Motor Vehicles.
August 24, 2006