Redlands Police arrested an 82 year-old man Tuesday in the Oct. 16 hit-and-run
collision that killed a popular crossing guard.
Joseph Andrew Arroya of Big Bear was arrested at the Redlands Police
Department on 12-18-18 at approximately 7:00 pm without incident for felony hit
and run.
At about 6:30 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 16, police responded to the report of a man
down in the intersection of Orange Street and Colton Avenue. Leonard Gilberto
Ortiz, 48, was riding his moped-type scooter east on Colton Avenue when he
was struck by a vehicle that ran the red light heading south on Orange Street.
The vehicle then entered the westbound 10 freeway.
Ortiz suffered severe injuries and was in full cardiac arrest when police and
Redlands Fire Department paramedics arrived. He was treated by paramedics at
the scene and transported by ambulance to Loma Linda University Medical
Center where he was pronounced dead.
Ortiz, known as Bam Bam, was a familiar site at his post near Lugonia
Elementary and Clement Middle schools, waving at passing motorists and
greeting children on their way to school.
Using surveillance videos collected along various streets and other forensic
evidence, investigators were able to identify the suspect vehicle as a dark green
Ford Ranger with a snug fit camper shell.
The Redlands Police Department announced a reward in the amount of $5,000
for any information leading to the arrest and conviction of the driver of the green
Ford Ranger. Although a few tips were received, detectives were able to
exonerate those leads. When the leads diminished, a local Redlands resident,
pitched in an additional $5,000 thereby increasing the reward amount to $10,000.
On 12-11-18, the Redlands Police Department conducted a press conference
announcing the increased reward amount. At the press conference, the family of
Leonard Ortiz made a plea for the driver to turn himself in. Shortly after the press
conference, the Redlands Police Department received information as to the
whereabouts of the suspect’s vehicle.
On 12-18-18, traffic investigators stopped the truck as it was being driven by
Joseph Arroya and voluntarily came to the Redlands Police Department for a
statement. Arroya was later arrested and transported to the West Valley
Detention Center where he is being held in lieu of $50,000 bail.
The Redlands Police Department would like to thank the community for providing
assistance in the investigation. This is a good example of “See Something, Say
Something.” Without the community’s involvement, this case would still likely be
unsolved.
Anyone with information regarding crime or suspicious activity is asked to contact
Redlands Police Dispatch at (909) 798-7681 ext. 1. Certain non-emergency
crimes may also be reported online using the Redlands Police Department’s
CopLogic reporting system at cityofredlands.org/police/report. Suspicious activity
and tips can be reported using the City of Redlands 311 mobile app available for
Android, iPhones, and iPads.
Redlands Police press releases and other information are available on the
Redlands Police Department Facebook page