Vehicular homicide charges to be filed in motorcycle death

Fri October 02 2009
Posted Oct 2, 2009
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Des Moines, IA [BIKEIOWA note: Interesting... Wonder if all these charges would have been made if Bruce was riding a bicycle? My prayers go out to Bruce's family and I hope for justice here too.] By DANIEL P. FINNEY dafinney@dmreg.com October 2, 2009 Two brothers accused of hitting and killing an Adel motorcyclist will be charged with vehicular homicide, Des Moines police said tonight. Santos Vidal Rodriguez, 26, and his brother, Orlando David Rodriguez, 23, already face second-degree robbery charges from the Sept. 23 crash in the 4300 block of Park Avenue. Police accused the brothers of stealing $27 worth of gas from a Casey’s General Store. As they pair made a getaway in an SUV, they allegedly struck and killed Bruce James Mundy, 48, who was riding his motorcycle west on Park Avenue. The vehicular homicide charge will be levied at both brothers because the two were involved in the theft, said Sgt. Lori Lavorato, Des Moines police spokeswoman. The charge is a Class C felony, punishable by up to 10 years in prison under Iowa law. Drug tests still are pending on the brothers. If narcotics or alcohol are found in the blood tests, the charge could be advanced to a Class B felony, punishable by up to 25 years in prison, officials said. Polk County Attorney John Sarcone also is exploring whether prosecutors may charge Santos Rodriguez for his alleged role in a 1999 shootout with Des Moines police near Martin Luther King Jr. Parkway and Forest Avenue. Two Des Moines police officers were wounded in the gunfight, one shot in the hand and another in the chest near his badge. Rodriguez, who was 16 at the time, was struck by officers’ bullets, lost a leg and was believed to have had permanent, debilitating brain damage that made him incompetent to stand trial.