The 22-year-old man who sheriff’s Deputy Hector Cuevas Jr. was pursuing when he was killed in a crash in Victorville was charged on Wednesday, March 19, with murder, evading a peace officer with wanton disregard for safety and grand-theft auto, according to court records.
They are all felonies.
Ryan Dwayne Turner Jr. was being held Tuesday without the possibility of bail at High Desert Detention Center in Adelanto.
The crash happened at El Evado and Seneca roads on Monday, March 17, when the 36-year-old deputy was in pursuit of Turner in a reported stolen vehicle.
Particulars on the collision have not been disclosed yet by authorities. The driver who Cuevas collied with was recovering from her injuries; she says she didn’t hear the pursuing vehicles. She said she was making a left turn on a green arrow and that Cuevas did not turn in his emergency lights and siren.
Cuevas’ car hit a pole and was cut in half, the driver, Marcellina Demyan said in an interview.
Cuevas had been in law enforcement for six years, the first three with the Upland Police Department.
Cuevas graduated from Carter High in Rialto and after graduating from Central State University in Ohio, returned to Carter to help coach the freshman football team.
He is survived by his wife, two children and his parents.
A press conference will be held this afternoon that might provide details on the charges and the collision.
Rialto police have said that Turner had been out of jail for five months, following a conviction involving another police chase that resulted in another collision.
This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.
