MURDER INVESTIGATION
Newport Police Department On November 27, 2024 at about 2051 hours, the Newport Police Department responded to 207 NW 15th Street in Newport regarding a disturbance. Newport Officers arrived on scene and contacted the persons present. Officers spoke with a tenant, Jeffrey Sutton. He relayed that Mark Rodgers was at his house and described him as intoxicated and belligerent. Sutton told Rodgers to leave his residence, and Rodgers began repeatedly punching Sutton in the head and body. While Sutton spoke with Officers, he began to have a hard time breathing and showed signs of respiratory distress. Officers requested medics and rendered aid to Sutton. Sutton became unresponsive as Officers spoke with him. Medics arrived on scene and began CPR. At 2133 hours, Sutton was pronounced deceased at the scene. Based on witness statements and evidence gathered at the scene, Officers learned Rodgers had struck Sutton repeatedly with a closed fist in the face and body. Mark Rodgers, 68, was taken