Former Mexican Policeman Arrested as Murder Suspect

A former Mexican police officer was in federal custody Saturday after his arrest by Santa Paula police as a fugitive suspected of murder, authorities said.

Jesus Angel Huerta Cerezo, 31, was being sought by Mexican authorities for allegedly killing someone while on duty as a police officer, Santa Paula police said.

Based on a lead from the Los Angeles Police Department, Cerezo was arrested at 10 p.m. Friday in an apartment in the 200 block of South Olive Street in Santa Paula, police said.

Frederico Espinosa, who rented a room in his apartment to Cerezo and two other men for $200 a month, said Cerezo had identified himself only as Juan Carlos when he moved in a month ago. He apparently was picking lemons during the day, Espinosa said.

“I was very shocked when the police came in,” Espinosa said Saturday. “I never thought he was that kind of person.”

Espinosa, who described Cerezo as quiet, educated and well-mannered, said his renter told him that he had come to the United States to earn money to support his family in Mexico.

Cerezo was turned over to the Immigration and Naturalization Service’s fugitive division, police said. Police had no additional details of the accusations against Cerezo.