Riverside County Sheriff's Department, California
End of Watch: Monday, March 19, 2007
Age: 33
Tour of Duty: 1 year, 5 months
Badge Number: Not available
Cause of Death: Automobile crash
Date of Incident: March 19, 2007
Weapon Used: Not available
Suspect Info: Not available
Deputy Sheriff Manuel Villegas was killed in an automobile crash while responding to a domestic disturbance at approximately 1:00 am.
He was driving behind another officer when an oncoming vehicle crossed into their lane on Pierce Street near 63rd Avenue in Thermal. The officer in the lead car was able to swerve out of the way, but Deputy Villegas was unable to and the two vehicles collided.
The other driver and Deputy Villegas were both killed in the accident.
Deputy Villegas was a U.S. Marine Corps veteran and had served with the Riverside County Sheriff's Department for 17 months. He is survived by his wife and four children.