August 2024. Blues Vol 40 No.8

AROUND THE COUNTRY

AROUND THE COUNTRY VACAVILLE, CA. Vacaville Police Officer Matthew Bowen died from injuries received from being struck by a vehicle while initiating a traffic stop. VACAVILLE — Vacaville Police Officer Matthew Bowen, 32, died after he was hit by a driver while initiating a traffic stop, authorities said Thursday. The crash happened at the intersections of Leisure Town Road and Orange Drive Thursday morning. CBS Sacramento spoke with two drivers from two of the three other cars involved in the crash. They said Officer Bowen’s motorcycle and a silver Acura were along northbound Leisure Town Road when the collision happened. “I was preparing to make a right turn and I didn’t even see the person, but someone hit me, span around, she hit a cop too and he was on a motorcycle so he flew,” Jonathan Ayson said. “I immediately see an officer is down on the ground. I run over and checked on him. I immediately get on the phone with 911,” Trevor Ragland-Rosser said. The California Highway Patrol’s Golden Gate division identified the driver arrested as Serena C.J. Rodriguez of Auburn, 24. Rodriguez is accused of being under the influence of drugs at the time of the collision. Bystanders detained her until she could be arrested. 40 The Blues - August ‘24 “They came to the rescue. That began the process for the arriving officers to take control of the scene,” said Carli. “No one should be behind the wheel if they are intoxicated for any reason. Now you have a deadly weapon, whether you know it or not.” Rodriguez was booked into the Solano County Jail and faces charges of homicide and DUI causing injury and/or death. “Matt was a magnetic personality. Somebody that always had a smile on his face, a positive attitude. Loved his family dearly. Loved this community. Because of that we are all broken hearted this evening,” said Vacaville Police Chief Ian Schmutzler at a Thursday evening press conference. Chief Schmutzler further described Bowen as a tremendous officer, but an even better person. “Today is the day that every chief hopes never comes,” Schmutzler said. A memorial outside the department grew on Thursday as some members of the community paid their respects to a man they didn’t know, but knew protected them until his watch OFFICER MATTHEW BOWEN ended. “He will be missed. We have a great police department here in Vacaville,” said local resident Michael Schwing, dropping off flowers. Officer Bowen served the department since June 13, 2023, and was an officer with the Concord Police Department for 3.5 years prior to that. “He has served with the highest level of dedication and honor, and his loss is deeply felt by the Department, the City and the community,” the Vacaville Police Department said in a statement Thursday afternoon.

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