Alejandro Rivas, 20, was taken into custody on an unrelated warrant on Sept. 23, 2015. The Santa Ana Police Department released this photo of him.
A 20-year-old man who was named a “person of interest” in a hit-and-run that left a tree trimmer dead in Santa Ana last week is in custody, police announced on Wednesday.
Alejandro Rivas was taken into custody in the morning and was being held on charges unrelated to the fatal traffic collision, according to a Santa Ana Police Department news release.
No details about the warrant were immediately provided, and police have not said whether he had been arrested.
The deadly hit-and-run occurred shortly before 1:30 p.m. Friday at West 17th and North Fairview streets, which was described by police as a major intersection in the city.
Agustin Perez Sosa is shown in a photo provided by his employer, West Coast Arborist.
The victim, who did contract work for the city, was standing next to his truck when he was struck and knocked about 50 feet. He died at the scene, Santa Ana police Cpl. Anthony Bertagna said.
The fleeing vehicle’s front tire fell off about two blocks away, and the driver and a passenger ran away on foot.
Rivas was described by Bertagna as a person of interest. He may have been driving the vehicle when the incident occurred, the corporal added.
The victim was later identified as 25-year-old Agustin Perez Sosa by a representative with the tree-trimming company, West Coast Arborist.
Sosa, who had been employed by the company for the past two years, was described as well liked and a hard worker.
The Santa Ana resident had a 10-year-old daughter, according to Bertagna. His wife came to the scene following the fatal crash.
