Deputy Kills Suspect After Struggle

A 37-year-old Saugus man was shot and killed in Canyon Country on Tuesday after a violent struggle with two Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputies, a sheriff’s spokeswoman said.

The fight began when Deputies Charles Robinson and Sharon Staggs tried to arrest Robert Alexander on suspicion of possession of narcotics paraphernalia, sheriff’s Sgt. Irene McReynolds said.

Alexander, who injured both deputies in the fight, was fatally wounded by Robinson, McReynolds said. He was pronounced dead at 12:15 a.m., shortly after arrival at Henry Mayo Newhall Hospital in Valencia, a hospital spokeswoman said.

McReynolds said Robinson and Staggs were on patrol at 11:15 p.m. Tuesday when they saw Alexander sitting in a parked car near an empty field at Doherty Avenue and Calla Way. While questioning Alexander about what he was doing in the area, the deputies saw a hypodermic syringe in the car, McReynolds said.

The deputies attempted to arrest Alexander, she said, but he resisted, taking a baton and flashlight from Robinson and hitting both deputies.

During the struggle, Robinson fired two shots from his handgun, fatally wounding Alexander, McReynolds said. Robinson and Staggs suffered bruises and other minor injuries in the fight, she said. Robinson was later treated for an injury to his left knee.

Robinson is an eight-year veteran of the department and Staggs is a seven-year veteran, McReynolds said.

The shooting is under investigation by homicide detectives.