Sonoma County Deputy Placed on Leave Following Fatal October Collision in Santa Rosa

Deputy Samuel Camarena Cruz is on paid leave as investigations continue into an October collision that killed 78-year-old Santa Rosa resident Robert Cydear.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 23, 2026, 11:10 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from The Press Democrat and East Bay Times.

The October Collision

On October 5, 2024, Deputy Camarena Cruz was traveling along Santa Rosa Avenue in a patrol SUV when he struck a vehicle driven by Robert Cydear. Cydear was reportedly exiting a parking lot at the time of the impact. The 78-year-old military veteran suffered extensive injuries, including multiple fractures to his ribs, pelvis, and clavicle. Despite medical intervention, Cydear passed away 18 days later due to complications from those injuries.

Administrative Leave and Ongoing Investigations

The Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office confirmed that Camarena Cruz was placed on paid administrative leave on March 4, 2026. While the department cited personnel protection laws in declining to specify the exact reason for the timing of the leave, it coincides with a deepening probe into the fatality. Currently, three separate entities are reviewing the incident:

California Highway Patrol (CHP): Conducting the primary traffic investigation.

Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office: Performing an internal administrative review.