Ruby Guerrero Valenzuela, Assaulting a Postal Carrier, California 2024

LOS ANGELES - In a shocking incident, a Monrovia woman has been arrested on federal charges of assaulting a mail carrier who was subjected to racial epithets and pepper sprayed in the face. Ruby Guerrero Valenzuela, 64, was arrested on charges of assaulting the United States Postal Service employee in an incident on April 20 in Pasadena.

According to the affidavit in support of the criminal complaint, Valenzuela apparently believed that the mail carrier’s vehicle had cut her off at an intersection in Pasadena. Valenzuela shouted obscenities and followed the victim to her next stop, where Valenzuela ran up the victim, who had walked to the entrance of a building on Lake Avenue. Witnesses claimed that Valenzuela screamed additional obscenities and racial epithets at the victim before spraying the victim in the face with pepper spray, which caused the victim to suffer severe pain and blurred vision.

The charge of assaulting a federal employee in a manner that inflicts bodily injury carries a statutory maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison. A criminal complaint contains allegations that a defendant has committed a crime. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent until and unless proven guilty in court.

The case was investigated by the United States Postal Inspection Service, which received assistance from the Pasadena Police Department and the Monrovia Police Department. United States Attorney Eileen M. Decker stated, “The evidence in this case indicates that a postal carrier carrying out her duties was the victim of an unwarranted attack. All federal employees should be able to carry out their duties without fear of attacks based on the performance of those duties.”

Ruby Guerrero Valenzuela is expected to make her initial appearance this afternoon in United States District Court. At this time, no further information is available regarding her current status or sentencing.

This case serves as a stark reminder of the importance of respect and safety for all federal employees, including postal carriers. It is crucial that we hold those responsible accountable for their actions and ensure that our nation’s laws are upheld.

The United States Postal Inspection Service will continue to investigate and prosecute cases involving assaults on postal carriers and other federal employees.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-cdca/pr/monrovia-woman-arrested-allegedly-pepper-spraying-mail-carrier