Man held in Highland Park slaying had dispute with victim, police say

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Members of multiple law enforcement and fire agencies combined to take a homicide suspect into custody after an extensive search in Highland Park on Wednesday. The suspect, who was not identified, was reportedly found hiding in a trash can. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)

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Scott Garriola, left, and Miguel Mejia, members of an LAPD/FBI fugitive task force, guard a tunnel mouth in the Arroyo Seco into which a homicide suspect had run. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)

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LAPD Officer Joe Dunster brings back his dog Max, who helped find a hiding homicide suspect. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)

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A man strolls past with his dog as the search for a homicide suspect in Highland park focuses on a tunnel in the Arroyo Seco channel on Wednesday morning. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)

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After an extensive search in Highland Park on Wednesday, Los Angeles police and FBI agents detained a homicide suspect who was reportedly found hiding in a trash can. He was not identified. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)

By Nicole Santa Cruz

July 2, 2014 4:50 PM PT

A man arrested Wednesday morning after a lengthy search involving federal and local authorities has been identified as 47-year-old Scott Allen Lyles, police said.

Witnesses have connected Lyles to the April shooting death of Ruben Castaneda in Highland Park, said Los Angeles Police Det. Jose Ramirez.

Lyles was spotted about 7:30 a.m. riding a bicycle in the Arroyo Seco wash near the 110 Freeway and North Avenue 55, said LAPD Officer Christopher No. Lyles ran into a tunnel, prompting authorities to close down the area for the search, which included K-9 units.

Castaneda was shot multiple times outside a makeshift tent on April 22. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

Castaneda and Lyles were involved in an ongoing dispute, Ramirez said. Records show that Lyles has multiple convictions for being a felon in possession of a firearm.

Castaneda’s aunt, Maria Chairez, said that the day of the shooting, her nephew had just gotten off work and had stopped by the area to visit some people.

“I think he was caught completely off-guard,” Chairez said.

Castaneda, a father of three, had recently gotten out of prison and had been working with a good friend reupholstering furniture. He was also involved in helping his younger son open a restaurant.

“He was a hard worker,” Chairez said. “He went to work every day.”

She said her nephew was also a caring, compassionate person who wanted to stay out of trouble and make a new life for himself.

“He just wanted to enjoy life,” Chairez said.

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