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Authorities have identified a Yuba City man they believe was killed by a suspect who dove into the Feather River to escape when confronted in possession of the dead man's car.
The California Highway Patrol arrested Dewayne Carter, 27, of Paradise and booked him into Butte County Jail for resisting arrest and on outstanding warrants in Butte, Yuba and Sutter counties, CHP Officer H.G. "Tag" Euritt said.
Yuba City Police spokeswoman Shawna Pavey said the department's detectives today sought to transfer Carter to Sutter County on a murder charge.
Sutter County Sheriff officials identified the victim as Gabriel Melendez Huerta, 54.
"We do believe it's a homicide," Pavey said.
Discovery of the apparent murder began at about 12:50 p.m. Monday when CHP Sgt. Robert Nevins, heading back to the office, spotted a 2005 Ford Mustang parked on Highway 70 near the Feather River Bridge.
Nevins said he thought it might be a disabled vehicle and wanted to make sure no one inside was hurt or needed help, so he stopped to check on it.
"The engine was running, the windows were down, and the radio was on full blast," Nevins said, adding that he noticed the car was filled with household items.
About the same time, Carter returned to the vehicle from the riverbank, and Nevins questioned him.
Carter's answers seemed evasive, Euritt said. The suspect initially said he owned the Mustang, then later said it belonged to a friend, Euritt said. Nevins also discovered several warrants had been issued for Carter's arrest.
When Nevins attempted to handcuff Carter, he fled down the embankment and dove into the river, floating downstream until he was caught at the River Bend Park launch ramp. Carter was treated for mild hypothermia at Oroville Medical Center before being transported to jail.
CHP investigators, prompted by other information gathered about the car, asked Yuba City police to check on its registered owner, who lived in the 1800 block of Turin Court. Officers discovered Huerta's body inside his house on Tuesday, Pavey said.
Authorities consider Carter a possible suspect for the homicide, Euritt said.
Pavey said Carter and Huerta knew each other, but detectives are still investigating the nature of their relationship and what led to the killing.
Several state and local agencies participated, including the Department of Justice, the Butte County Sheriff's Office, the California State Parks police, Cal Fire and the Oroville Police Department.
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The California Highway Patrol arrested Dewayne Carter, 27, of Paradise and booked him into Butte County Jail for resisting arrest and on outstanding warrants in Butte, Yuba and Sutter counties, CHP Officer H.G. "Tag" Euritt said.
Yuba City Police spokeswoman Shawna Pavey said the department's detectives today sought to transfer Carter to Sutter County on a murder charge.
Sutter County Sheriff officials identified the victim as Gabriel Melendez Huerta, 54.
"We do believe it's a homicide," Pavey said.
Discovery of the apparent murder began at about 12:50 p.m. Monday when CHP Sgt. Robert Nevins, heading back to the office, spotted a 2005 Ford Mustang parked on Highway 70 near the Feather River Bridge.
Nevins said he thought it might be a disabled vehicle and wanted to make sure no one inside was hurt or needed help, so he stopped to check on it.
"The engine was running, the windows were down, and the radio was on full blast," Nevins said, adding that he noticed the car was filled with household items.
About the same time, Carter returned to the vehicle from the riverbank, and Nevins questioned him.
Carter's answers seemed evasive, Euritt said. The suspect initially said he owned the Mustang, then later said it belonged to a friend, Euritt said. Nevins also discovered several warrants had been issued for Carter's arrest.
When Nevins attempted to handcuff Carter, he fled down the embankment and dove into the river, floating downstream until he was caught at the River Bend Park launch ramp. Carter was treated for mild hypothermia at Oroville Medical Center before being transported to jail.
CHP investigators, prompted by other information gathered about the car, asked Yuba City police to check on its registered owner, who lived in the 1800 block of Turin Court. Officers discovered Huerta's body inside his house on Tuesday, Pavey said.
Authorities consider Carter a possible suspect for the homicide, Euritt said.
Pavey said Carter and Huerta knew each other, but detectives are still investigating the nature of their relationship and what led to the killing.
Several state and local agencies participated, including the Department of Justice, the Butte County Sheriff's Office, the California State Parks police, Cal Fire and the Oroville Police Department.
More...