| Nature of Incident: |
Suspect in Attack of Oak Park Teen Arrested for 2017 Burglary / Sexual Assault
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| Report Number: |
17-162881; 20-36146 |
| Location: |
800 Block of Saint Charles Drive, Thousand Oaks, Ca.
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| Date & Time: |
March 6, 2020 / 1:40 pm
October 25, 2017 / 3:15 pm
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| Unit(s) Responsible: |
East County Investigations Bureau, Thousand Oaks Police Department, Ventura County Sheriff’s Office Forensic Services Bureau, Ventura County District Attorney’s Office
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| (S)uspects, (V)ictims, (P)arty, (D)ecedent |
City of Residence
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| (S) Ruelas, Edgar Rodriguez |
Woodland Hills |
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Narrative:
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The Thousand Oaks Police/East County Investigations Bureau has arrested Edgar Rodriguez Ruelas for a 2017 sexual assault that occurred during the commission of a first degree residential burglary. Ruelas was linked to the crime through DNA.
On March 6, 2020, detectives arrested Edgar Rodriguez Ruelas for the attempted kidnapping of a teenage girl in Oak Park committed the afternoon of March 5, 2020. During the attack, Ruelas grabbed the victim while she was walking on a trail. She was able to get away from Ruelas, but did not suffer any injuries.
The investigation revealed Ruelas had parked his vehicle on a nearby street and followed the victim onto the hiking trails. A Ventura County Sheriff’s patrol unit equipped with an automated license plate reader camera system captured Ruelas’ license plate while Ruelas was away from his vehicle. Through surveillance, detectives were able to locate and arrest Ruelas at the Torrey Pines State Preserve in San Diego. At the time of his arrest, Ruelas was driving a white Nissan Rogue sport utility vehicle, which is the same vehicle he was driving when he attacked the victim on a trail near her home on March 5, 2020.
On March 6, 2020, Ruelas was arrested and booked for Attempted Kidnapping. The case was originally filed by the Ventura County District Attorney’s Office as False Imprisonment. Ruelas’ bail was set at $100,000.
Detectives continued their investigation into Ruelas, who matched the suspect description in similar previous crimes on hiking trails and residential burglaries where a sexual assault had occurred. During Ruelas’ original arrest, he was served with a search warrant to obtain a sample of his DNA.
On March 16, 2020, detectives received notification from the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office Forensic Services Bureau that Ruelas’ DNA matched DNA evidence found at the scene of a Burglary and Sexual Assault that occurred in 2017.
On March 16, 2020, detectives arrested Ruelas, who was still in custody at the Pre-Trial Detention Facility, for Assault with the intent to commit a sexual assault.
In light of the March 16, 2020 arrest, the Ventura County District Attorney’s Office has amended the charges for Ruelas’ original arrest to False Imprisonment and Assault with Intent to Commit a Sexual Assault. The District Attorney’s Office also filed one count of a Forcible Act of Sexual Penetration in the commission of a First Degree Residential Burglary for the 2017 case, which is punishable by a sentence of 25 years to life. Ruelas’ bail has now been set at $500,000.
Detectives with the Thousand Oaks Police/East County Investigations Bureau are still actively working this investigation. Investigators are awaiting additional DNA results that may link Ruelas to other crimes and are working with nearby agencies that may have similar crimes. Anyone with information that may assist with the ongoing investigation can contact Detective Meagan Yates at 805-371-8397.
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| Prepared by: |
Sergeant Dan Hawes |
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| News Release Date: |
March 20, 2020 |
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| Media Follow-Up Contact: |
Captain Eric Buschow (805)947-8219
[email protected]
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Approved by:
Booking Photo Release: |
Captain Denise Sliva
YES |
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