Detectives from the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s have been conducting an ongoing investigation into several incidents of vandalism and at least one assault occurring in the Saugus and Canyon Country areas between November 13th and 16th. During that time, numerous vehicles were vandalized, many tires were slashed and some of the vehicles were scratched or dented with an apparent metal instrument. In at least one of the incidents, the victim was in his car when the suspect approached, hit the victim’s window with an object, slashed his tires and then used his vehicle to back into the victim’s vehicle.
By November 16th, Detectives had gathered enough information to locate the suspect’s vehicle at his home in Canyon Country. As they pieced the crimes together, they were able to identify Rodney Higgins, MW/41, of Canyon Country, as a suspect and believed he may have had a direct involvement in many of these criminal incidents. The detectives determined the suspect had apparently used another vehicle to leave the Santa Clarita Valley. A warrant was issued for the arrest of Higgins as detectives were actively trying to determine his whereabouts.
Detectives received a fortunate break Sunday night when Higgins was arrested at 7:22 p.m. by the Madera County Sheriff’s Department. Madera County reports that Higgins was booked on Assault with a Deadly Weapon and Vandalism charges for criminal acts he apparently committed in their county. Higgins is being held in Madera County pending future court proceedings and will then face charges in Los Angeles County. The investigation is ongoing and there is no further information available at this time.