Suspect Arrested in Crossing Guard Killing

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