Sheriff’s Department Sends Three Felony Charges for City Employee to DA’s Office

• Records Clerk Allegedly DUI in Fatal PCH Hit-and-Run

BY BILL KOENEKER

After a lengthy investigation, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department submitted three felony charges to the District Attorney’s office last week against Robert Sanchez, 29, of Santa Monica.
Sanchez is accused of fatally hitting Rodrigo Armas, 45, of Tehachapi on June 28 at 1:20 a.m. as Armas was bicycling on Pacific Coast Highway, according to authorities.
Sanchez is charged with one felony count of vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated that, if he is convicted, could result in up to four years in state prison. He is also charged with driving under the influence and fatal hit and run, according to an email from Traffic Sergeant Phil Brooks of the Malibu/Lost Hills Sheriff’s Station.
Sanchez is accused of hitting two cyclists on PCH who were participating in an annual organized bicycle ride.
Sanchez, who was allegedly driving under the influence, struck the pair, then he reportedly fled the scene of the accident and was later picked up and taken into custody.
Sanchez, who is employed by the City of Malibu as a records clerk, was reportedly driving along the 34000 block of PCH near Nicholas Canyon when he allegedly crossed over the fog line and struck Armas, a Los Angeles County deputy probation officer, who died at the scene.
Also hit was Armas’ son Christian, 14, who suffered serious leg injuries requiring hospitalization.
Armas is survived by his wife, the injured son and two daughters, ages 9 and 12, according to a sheriff’s department press release.
Authorities allege Sanchez left the scene of the accident and continued along PCH for a short distance, before he abandoned his vehicle and hid in the brush.
Sanchez was found about two hours later by sheriff’s deputies, who arrested him and took him into custody.