DOLAN SPRINGS – A Dolan Springs man suffered a puffy face when battered while battling Mohave County Sheriff’s deputies for more than a half hour early Tuesday. Spokeswoman Anita Mortensen said it was 2:00 a.m. when the sheriff’s office was asked to check into a suspicious vehicle report in the 13000 block of N. Joshua Drive in Dolan Springs.
Mortensen said the reporting party advised that a semi-truck had parked near her neighbor’s home and that a man was walking near the property with a flashlight. She said deputies stopped the suspect vehicle and made contact with its driver Aldan Rodriguez-Rodriquez, 32, and an unidentified male passenger.
Mortensen said the passenger was driven home and dropped off there. She said Rodriguez was detained for an arrest warrant and for possession of marijuana.
Rodriguez was reportedly released from restraints after they returned to the semi-truck to allow him to retrieve personal possessions. She said Rodriguez became upset and told deputies he wanted to be taken to jail.
“Rodriguez became increasingly agitated and continued making unusual comments about the truck and wanting to go to jail. Rodriguez then shoved his phone in the deputy’s face, striking the deputy in the nose, and grabbed the deputy’s arm,” Mortensen said in a news released that contained a detailed account of the brawl.
“The deputy attempted to grab Rodriguez and gain control, however Rodriguez punched the deputy in the side of the head with a closed fist and shoved the deputy away. A struggle ensued and a backup deputy arrived on scene shortly after. Both deputies attempted to gain control of Rodriguez with no success. The struggle continued and deputys deployed their tasers multiple times in an attempt to gain control.
The struggle continued on for approximately 35 minutes, when Rodriguez began reaching for one of the deputy’s weapons. Rodriguez made several attempts to remove the weapon from the deputy’s holster, and the deputy made several strikes to Rodriguez’s face to attempt to stop him. Deputies were able to place restraints on Rodriguez, however Rodriguez continued to kick at deputies, striking them wherever he could reach.
Rodriguez’s nose had started to bleed at one point, and he then preceded to spit blood at the deputies. A third deputy arrived, and Rodriguez eventually began to comply and follow verbal orders. Medical was called to the scene to evaluate Rodriguez and the involved deputies.”
Mortensen said the deputies expressed surprised that their strikes and taser deployments had little if any effect on Rodriguez. He was treated for his injuries at hospitals in Kingman and Las Vegas.
One of the deputies was taken to Kingman Regional Medical Center for treatment while another deputy was treated on scene for lesser injuries. A third deputy was not hurt.
Rodriguez was subsequently transported back to Kingman and booked into the Mohave County Adult Detention Center for aggravated assault, resisting arrest and other charges. An investigation continues.
- Dave Hawkins
