NEWMAN – A valley-wide manhunt has resulted in the capture of Gustavo Perez Arriaga (32) and two other men that helped the suspected cop killer flee the Stanislaus area. Arriaga is suspected of the killing of Newman Police Officer Ronil Singh (33) during a traffic stop just before 1:00 AM on Wednesday morning 12/26/18.

The Stanislaus County Sheriff's Office says that Arriaga was taken into custody in Cpl. Singh's handcuffs in Kern County early Friday morning. The suspect was found nearly 200 miles away in the Kern County town of Lamont in a house that was being monitored by law enforcement for the last 24 hours. Stanislaus County Sheriff Adam Christianson says Arriaga was attempting to make his way to Mexico when he was arrested.

Sheriff Christianson says that Arriaga was an active member of the Sureños street gang and had been arrested twice before on charges of driving under the influence of alcohol, once in Madera County. The Sheriff said that Arriaga crossed into Arizona from Mexico illegally a couple of years ago and it is believed that he had been working on farms in the Central Valley. Arriaga surrendered without incident.

Two other men, Adrian Virgen (25) and Erik Razo Quiroz (27), were arrested yesterday for helping Arriaga escape Stanislaus County. The suspect’s brother, Virgen, was arrested in Hanford. Quiroz, a co-worker of Arriaga, was arrested in Modesto. Both men were arrested for accessory after the fact to a felony and were also in the country illegally.

Kern County Sheriff's Donny Youngblood said that three other people at the residence, Bernabe Madrigal Castaneda (59), Erasmo Villegas(36), and Maria Luisa Moreno (57), all from Bakersfield, were also arrested on suspicion of aiding and abetting the suspect.tting Arriaga. Youngblood did not disclose their legal status.

Upon arresting Arriaga, detectives also arrested Arriaga's girlfriend, Ana Leyde Cervantes (30, Newman) in Turlock and his brother, Conrado Virgen Mendoza (34, Chowchilla) in Livermore, were also arrested for aiding him in evading authorities  

At 12:57 AM Wednesday morning, Officer Singh called off on a traffic stop at Merced Street and Eucalyptus Avenue in Newman. A few moments later he called out “shots fired” over the radio. Multiple agencies responded to assist and Singh was found at the scene with gunshot wounds.

Over the police scanner an unidentified officer said, "Looks like he got a gunshot wound to the head." Singh was transported to a local hospital where he was pronounced deceased.

The suspect had fled the scene in his vehicle prior to assisting officer’s arrival. A gray, extended cab Dodge Ram pickup was seen in the area at the time of the shooting. The Stanislaus County Sheriff’s Department is leading the investigation.

 Detectives have photographs of the suspect taken from surveillance video from Newman Food Market. Just before the shooting, the suspect was in the mini-mart buying beer. According store clerk Suzie Martinez after the suspect left the store his truck was pulled over by Officer Singh a few blocks away. She said she heard the shots ring out and saw the suspect’s truck leave the area.

The suspect’s truck was found Wednesday in a mobile home park just five miles outside the city of Newman. The Stanislaus County Sheriff's Department executed a search warrant at a home there, and one neighbor told local media that he recognized the suspect as his neighbor’s brother.

Officer Singh was a native of Fiji and has been employed by Newman Police Department since July 2011. “Our Newman Police family is devastated by the loss of Ronil,” said Newman Police Chief Randy Richardson. “If anyone has any information regarding the identity of the suspect, please contact law enforcement immediately so we can get this cop-killer off the streets.”

Singh was the first Newman Police Office killed in the line of duty in the department’s history. A Community Vigil honoring Cpl Ronil Singh will take place this evening (Friday) at 6 pm at Newman Downtown Plaza.

A memorial fund has been set up for Corporal Singh’s family. Donations can be made at any West America Bank Branch to the Corporal Ronil Singh Memorial Fund (Newman Police Department) or mailed to the Stanislaus Sworn Deputies Association at the address listed below. The Stanislaus Sworn Deputies Association says please be aware there are NO other approved or authorized memorial fund or online fundraising accounts will be established.

Detectives are asking anyone with information regarding this case to contact Detective Michael Fisher at 209-525-7083 or dispatch at 209-552-2468. If you have any tips, you can leave an anonymous tip by calling Crime Stoppers at (209) 521-4636. Tipsters can also e-mail tips at http://www.modestopolice.com/CrimeStoppers, or text them to CRIMES (274637) by typing "Tip704" plus the message and be eligible for a cash reward.
________________
Mailed to:
Stanislaus Sworn Deputies Association
Corporal Ronil Singh Memorial Fund
PO Box 2314
Ceres, CA 95307

Online:
https://www.stanislaussworn.com/donation.html