Suspect in death of California officer arrested

SAN FRANCISCO - The Latest on the killing of a California officer (all times local):

12:25 p.m.

The sheriff leading the investigation into the shooting death of a California police officer took aim at so-called sanctuary laws that limit cooperation with U.S. immigration authorities.

Stanislaus County Sheriff Adam Christianson told reporters Friday that the suspect was in the country illegally and that if he had been deported for previous DUI arrests, Cpl. Ronil Singh would still be alive.

Christianson blamed California’s sanctuary law for preventing local authorities from reporting Gustavo Perez Arriaga to federal immigration officials.

He spoke at the news conference about making laws stricter as the Singh’s brother wept beside him.

The sheriff says Perez Arriaga was a native of Mexico and had been in the U.S. illegally for several years.

He says Perez Arriaga’s brother and co-worker also have been arrested for misleading investigators.

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12:15 p.m.

Authorities say the man accused of killing a California police officer during a traffic stop has been captured.

Stanislaus County Sheriff Adam Christianson told reporters Friday that Gustavo Perez Arriaga was arrested in Bakersfield in the death of Cpl. Ronil Singh.

The sheriff says Perez Arriaga was in the country illegally after crossing the border in Arizona. He didn’t say when that happened but that he has been in the U.S. for several years.

Christianson says Perez Arriaga is from Mexico and was trying to cross back over the border before his arrest.

The sheriff says Perez Arriaga had two prior drunken driving arrests and known gang affiliations.

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12 a.m.

Authorities are searching for a man believed to be living in the country illegally who they say gunned down a California police officer the day after Christmas, inflaming the nationwide debate on immigration.

President Donald Trump referred to the death of police Cpl. Ronil Singh in a tweet Thursday that ended with the demand: “Build the wall!”

Singh died Wednesday after stopping a suspected drunken driver in the tiny town of Newman in California’s agricultural San Joaquin Valley.

A suspect identified from convenience store video before the killing, remains at large and is considered armed and dangerous.

Newman’s police chief, Randy Richardson, held back tears Thursday as he described Singh - a native of Fiji - as a patriot who worked hard to serve his adopted country.