Suspect Accused of Killing California Police Corporal Has Been Arrested

The man accused of fatally shooting a Newman, California has been captured, the Kern County Sheriff's office said Friday. 

The suspect was identified as Gustavo Perez Arriaga and was taken into custody in Kern County, on either late Thursday or early Friday. Specific details about the arrest weren't immediately available. 

The suspect's brother, 25-year-old Adrian Virgen and a co-worker identified as 32-year-old Erik Razo Quiroz were arrested on "accessory after the fact" charges for attempting to protect Arriaga. Arriaga, Virgen and Quiroz were all in the country illegally, Stanislaus County Sheriff's Adam Christianson said. 

Arriaga was attempting to make his way down to Mexico when he was arrested, he added. 

10th Congressional District candidate Ted Howze, announced the arrest in a Tweet early Friday. 

"Great News..... The fugitive wanted in connection with murder of Newman, CA Police Officer Ronil Singh has been arrested early this morning in Bakersfield," Howze tweeted.

Police Corporal Ronil 'Ron' Singh, 33, was shot and killed early Wednesday morning after conducting a traffic stop in the small town of Newman, located in California's Central Valley region. Mere moments after he told dispatchers that he was pulling over the suspect in a silver Dodge Ram on suspicion of driving under the influence, Singh called in that shots had been fired.

Several deputies from both Stanislaus and Merced counties responded, where they found Corporal Singh lying on the ground and the vehicle and suspect missing. Police rushed Singh to the hospital, where he later died from his injuries. 

A statewide manhunt was initiated as law enforcement released surveillance video from a store that showed the suspect's face. The truck was later found outside the city of Newman in a mobile home park Wednesday afternoon, but the suspect was nowhere to be found. 

On Thursday, President Donald Trump commented on the suspect's immigration status writing that "There is right now a full scale manhunt going on in California for an illegal immigrant accused of shooting and killing a police officer during a traffic stop. Time to get tough on Border Security. Build the Wall!"

A memorial fund has been established for Corporal Singh. Donations can be made online at: https://www.stanislaussworn.com/donation.html. The Stanislaus Sworn Deputies Association says there are no other approved or authorized memorial online funding accounts that will be established. 

Photo: Stanislaus County Sheriff's Office