MADERA – Madera Police have made an arrest in the June 14th hit and run that left a 15-year-old high school girl in the hospital in critical condition with major injuries. The incident occurred at the intersection of Monterey and Olive Avenue.
With the benefit of several surveillance cameras along Howard Road and Olive Avenue, Madera Police identified their suspect as Paul Cano (27) of Fresno. The very same black 2016 Hyundai Elantra that struck the high school girl is also featured in several advertisements for Cano’s business VFF (Valley Family Fitness) In-Home Fitness.
Cano failed to remain at the scene and render aid to the young lady or notify police of the accident. Police shared a blurry photo of the suspect vehicle on their Facebook page last week, asking for the community's help in identifying the driver. The vehicle had a distinct sign on both sides of the vehicle advertising the suspect’s business.
The night of the hit-n-run Cano was leaving a clients home in the Westberry area of Madera traveling east on Howard Road to Olive Avenue. His path was well documented from surveillance video which included the entire collision with the child at the intersection near Chase’s Chop Shop.
On Friday, police were able to locate Cano, 27, and his 2016 Hyundai Elantra at his place of employment in the 3000 block of North Blackstone Avenue in Fresno. The vehicle had damage to the left front headlight and was missing the driver side mirror, police said.
Cano gave inconsistent statements to the police which led them to make an arrest on the spot. Cano’s has already bailed out of the Madera County Department of Corrections. Cano was unavailable for an interview at his 6665 North Fresno Street apartment or his mother’s home on the 700 block of East Yale Avenue in Fresno. His vehicle was impounded as evidence.
Cano has garnered some notoriety when his boxing career turned professional in 2011 with his signing under noted manager and boxing hype man Repo Ric. Cano made his professional debut in a four-round welterweight bout on the 2011 Telefutura Solo Boxeo undercard in Woodland, California.
The victim, Jenny Aguilar, continues her battle on her road to recovery. Members of the community have started a support account on behalf of the family to help with expenses not covered by insurance.
