LAKEPORT, Calif. – The man who on Tuesday night assaulted a deputy sheriff who died a short time later after his patrol vehicle crashed has been charged with manslaughter.
Alex Michael Castillo, 21, of Nice is being held in the Lake County Jail on a felony count of voluntary manslaughter in connection to the death of Deputy Rob Rumfelt, according to District Attorney Don Anderson.
Castillo also is facing felony charges of assault with a deadly weapon on a police officer, inflicting corporal injury on a spouse and obstructing a peace officer, and a misdemeanor bench warrant, according to jail records.
Initially on Wednesday Castillo’s bail was set at $300,000, but was raised by day’s end to $1.5 million, according to booking records.
He’s due to appear in court for arraignment on Friday, Anderson said.
Castillo’s case is part of a larger investigation into the death of Rumfelt that’s being conducted by the Lake County District Attorney’s Office under the county’s critical incident protocol.
Just before 8 p.m. Tuesday, Rumfelt, 50, responded to the 900 block of Boggs Lane in Lakeport for a report of four to five subjects physically fighting, authorities said.
Anderson said Rumfelt and Deputy Nate Newton were backing up Lakeport Police Sgt. Joe Eastham on the call, which was within the city of Lakeport.
Based on the investigation so far, Castillo was at the residence where he had assaulted his wife. His wife’s mother and sister also were involved in fighting with him, and Anderson said during that fight Castillo assaulted his mother-in-law.
When Eastham, Newton and Rumfelt arrived on scene, they saw a large group of people in front of a residence on Healton Circle. A subject who was reported to be covered with blood – later identified as Castillo – ran from the scene and into a nearby wooded area, according to Anderson and the sheriff’s office account.
There was a large amount of blood at the scene and on Castillo. “We don’t know whose blood that was yet,” said Anderson. “My guess is, it’s going to be the victim’s blood,” he added, referring to Castillo’s wife.
Newton and Rumfelt searched the area and found Castillo, and a struggle ensued as they tried to take him into custody, Anderson said.
“It was a tough, brutal-type fight,” said Anderson.
The sheriff’s office said a Taser was used on Castillo, who was then arrested.
Anderson said that, based on the interviews with Eastham and Newton, Rumfelt had told them after the fight with Castillo that he was experiencing shortness of breath.
Within about 10 minutes of the fight, as Rumfelt was clearing the scene, his patrol SUV ran into a tree a short distance away, Anderson said.
Lakeport Fire worked to resuscitate Rumfelt before transporting him to Sutter Lakeside Hospital shortly after 9 p.m., where he was pronounced dead, according to the sheriff’s office.
“Right now we’re going under the assumption that Rumfelt died of a heart attack,” said Anderson. “Everything points to that conclusion.”
However, Anderson said they won’t know for sure until after an autopsy is completed. That procedure is scheduled for Thursday in Napa County.
The Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office is handling the coroner investigation at the Lake County Sheriff’s Office request, according to Sheriff Brian Martin.
Because of the close proximity in time between the fight and Rumfelt’s crash, Anderson said Castillo’s fight with Rumfelt could have led to the deputy’s death.
“That leads us to the manslaughter charge,” Anderson said.
Other parts of the investigation are continuing, including conducting interviews with the women assaulted by Castillo, Anderson said.
The only other possible charge that might be added to Castillo’s case would be for the assault against his mother-in-law, which Anderson said would be a misdemeanor.
Anderson said Castillo has a history of domestic violence.
“He’s been prosecuted before,” said Anderson. “He is actually on probation for assaulting his wife.”
Anderson said all four of his investigators are working on the case, conducting interviews, gathering evidence and preparing to write reports. There are still many more witnesses to talk to, he added.
Rumfelt’s SUV patrol vehicle remains in storage. Anderson said the CHP or someone trained in vehicle mechanics will take a look at it at some point.
“All our agencies will have our reports done within a month,” said Anderson.
He said the piece that may take the longest – and which will be key to the investigation – is the autopsy report. He expects to have at least some initial results on Thursday afternoon.
Anderson said he is assigning the criminal portion of the case to Deputy District Attorney Danny Flesch, who took part in the investigation beginning on Tuesday night.
“I have a lot of confidence in Danny. I think he’ll do a good job,” Anderson said.
Law enforcement family copes
As the District Attorney’s Office was working on the case on Wednesday, Rumfelt’s friends and family were facing the first day without him.
Social media on Wednesday was filled with tributes to Rumfelt from the many people who knew him from both sides of the badge.
His father, Bob Rumfelt, a former city councilman and mayor who also served for a time as a deputy sheriff, thanked community members on Facebook for their messages, concern and respect for his son.
“I have been reading all of the posts concerning my son Rob, they all help to calm the heavy heart I have,” he said, noting that those who work in law enforcement know that such incidents can occur.
Sheriff Martin said the mood at his department is “pretty somber” in the wake of Rumfelt’s death.
“It’s tough on everybody,” he said.
Martin said a debriefing is coming up for those personnel directly involved in the incident.
“We have grief counselors available to us,” he said.
On Wednesday, California Attorney General Xavier Becerra offered his support to Rumfelt’s friends and family.
“On behalf of the men and women of the California Department of Justice, I extend my heartfelt condolences to the family, loved ones and colleagues of Deputy Robert Rumfelt, who died in the line of duty while serving those he was sworn to protect. Deputy Rumfelt dedicated some of his best years to protect and serve his community. That will never be forgotten,” Becerra said.
He added, “I have informed Lake County Sheriff Brian Martin that my team at the Department of Justice is at his disposal to assist in any way possible during this difficult time.”
In response, Martin took to Facebook to thank everyone for their support for Rumfelt’s family as well as the men and women of his law enforcement family.
“We have received messages of condolence from community members, family, friends, law enforcement agencies across the state and across the country, elected officials, and countless others. The support expressed by this community means a lot to me, and more importantly, to Rob's family as we navigate the grieving process together,” Martin said.
Rumfelt’s family will bring his body home on Thursday, with the sheriff’s office and California Highway Patrol to escort them in a procession from the Napa/Lake County line to Lakeport.
Details about the procession and the route can be found here.
A memorial service for Rumfelt has been set for 10 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 9, at Clear Lake High School’s Don Owens Stadium in Lakeport. The sheriff’s office said more details on the event will be forthcoming over the next few weeks.
Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.
Investigation into deputy’s death continues; suspect who assaulted deputy charged with manslaughter
- Elizabeth Larson
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