Authorities in Ventura say a string of sex assault and burglary cases from 2016 have been linked to a man already in custody who is charged with similar crimes in the Conejo Valley area.
The suspect, 38-year-old Edgar Rodriguez Ruelas of Woodland Hills, was arrested in March on suspicion of attempting to kidnap a 16-year-old girl as she hiked a trail in Oak Park near Sunnycrest Drive and Trefoil Avenue. The day after the March 5 incident, during which the teen was grabbed by a man she described as covered from head to toe in dark clothing, Ventura County Sheriff's authorities had identified Ruelas as the suspect and tracked him to the Torrey Pines State Preserve in San Diego. He was arrested there without incident.
About two weeks later, sheriff's officials said Ruelas' DNA matched the DNA evidence collected from a 2017 residential burglary in the 800 Block of Saint Charles Drive in Thousand Oaks. A sexual assault was reported during that incident. While still in custody for the Oak Park incident, Ruelas was arrested on suspicion of the 2017 crime as well.
Prosecutors with the Ventura County District Attorney's office have filed multiple felony charges against Ruelas, including sexual battery, assault with intent to rape during a burglary, anal and genital penetration, possession of child pornography and burglary. Prosecutors amended charges in the Oak Park incident from attempted kidnapping to false imprisonment and assault with the intent to commit sexual assault. Ruelas has pleaded not guilty to all charges and has denied all special enhancements.
Now, Ventura Police Department officials have arrested Ruelas on suspicion of burglary and sexual assault related to four incidents in 2016.
The incidents took place between April and August that year, when Ruelas and his then-wife lived in the 3300 block of Webster Street, located east of Victoria Avenue on the south side of Highway 126 near the Ventura County Government Center. All of the alleged crimes took place within a 2.5-mile radius of their Ventura residence, authorities said. The two have since divorced.
In April 2016, a female victim in the 6600 block of Webster reported an unidentified man had entered her residence through the sliding glass door shortly after 5 a.m. and had sexually assaulted her when she awoke. The suspect wore gloves, dark clothes and a ski mask.
In May that year, a female victim in the 600 block of Atlanta Lane reported an unidentified man peeping through her bedroom window at around 5 a.m. He wore all dark clothing and a ski mask, the department reported.
That June, officers responded to the 1500 block of Echidna Lane at 5:38 a.m. when a female victim reported an unidentified man had entered the residence through a sliding glass door and groped the victim's buttocks. The suspect fled when the victim woke up and screamed. He wore gloves, dark clothes and a ski mask.
In August that year, a 5:35 a.m. call brought officers to the 700 block of South Hill Street when a female victim reported an unidentified male had come into her residence through a sliding glass door left open for a cat. He allegedly sexually assaulted the victim and fled when she awoke and screamed. The suspect wore gloves, dark clothes and a ski mask.
After Ruelas' arrests in the Oak Park and Thousand Oaks cases, sheriff's detectives obtained a search warrant for Ruelas' cell phone and Google accounts, Ventura police reported. Cell phone records allegedly showed he had been in Ventura in the area of the four crimes in 2016.
When Ventura police detectives contacted Ruelas' ex-wife, she reportedly realized his behavior was consistent with the suspect's described actions and that he matched the description. According to police, the ex-wife told detectives Ruelas had "stopped his suspicious behavior when going on his 'hikes' and early morning outings" when police started to investigate the cases and canvass the area.
After the couple moved away from the Webster residence in September 2016, no other similar incidents were reported in the area, authorities said. Other witnesses who lived nearby at the time reportedly told detectives they saw Ruelas leave early in the morning but had never shared suspicions with police.
Based on phone and Google records and the totality of circumstantial evidence, Ventura detectives arrested Ruelas on suspicion of residential burglary, assault with intent to commit rape and sexual penetration by force, the department announced on Thursday.
As of Sunday night, Ruelas remained in Todd Road Jail with bail set at $5.1 million, jail records showed. His next appearance at Ventura County Superior Court is scheduled for Tuesday afternoon.
Ventura police say their investigation into the crimes is ongoing. Anyone with information is asked to call Detective Jesus Nunez at 805-339-4465.
Gretchen Wenner covers breaking news for the Ventura County Star. Reach her at gretchen.wenner@vcstar.com or 805-437-0270.
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