A man facing a felony charge for allegedly assaulting a patient and a staff member at a mental health care facility in Centralia in November is now under investigation for allegedly assaulting a corrections deputy in Pacific County on Saturday.
The man, identified as Rudy Moses Rodriguez, 23, was in custody at the Pacific County Jail awaiting transport to the Lewis County Jail when he allegedly assaulted a corrections deputy, according to the Pacific County Sheriff’s Office.
Rodriguez was reportedly “experiencing a mental health crisis” at the Pacific County Jail on Saturday, March 23, according to the Pacific County Sheriff’s Office. On-duty corrections deputies worked to “de-escalate the situation verbally” before initiating an “in-person conversation” once Rodriguez “appeared to calm down,” the Pacific County Sheriff’s Office stated. While a deputy was “attempting to establish better communication with Mr. Rodriguez,” Rodriguez allegedly “attacked” a deputy, breaking his nose and causing a radial fracture of the deputy’s right wrist.
Rodriguez allegedly continued to attack two deputies until they were able to subdue him, according to the Pacific County Sheriff’s Office.
Rodriguez was not injured in the incident and was transported to the Lewis County Jail on Monday, March 25.
The Pacific County Jail incident is still under investigation and criminal charges had not been filed as of Tuesday afternoon.
Rodriguez had a preliminary hearing scheduled in Lewis County Superior Court Tuesday, March 26, for the alleged assault at a Centralia mental health care facility on Nov. 14.
In that incident, Rodriguez allegedly “slapped another patient” and “hit (a) staff member … in the face” while he was in custody of an inpatient program at Cascade Evaluation and Treatment Center, according to court documents.
The staff member reportedly suffered a split lower lip from the assault.
Rodriguez was charged with one count of custodial assault in Lewis County Superior Court on Dec. 15. The charge is a class C felony punishable by up to five years in prison.
Rodriguez refused to appear in court for his hearing on Tuesday, so it was pushed out to Wednesday, March 27. An order for a competency evaluation will potentially be heard at that hearing.
