Suspect charged with murder after sheriff's deputy killed during chase in Victorville

SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. (KABC) -- A man accused in connection to a pursuit crash that killed a San Bernardino County sheriff's deputy was charged with murder, the county's district attorney's office announced Wednesday.

Deputy Hector Cuevas Jr., 36, died during a stolen-car chase Monday in Victorville when he crashed into a bystander vehicle and then slammed into a light pole.

The suspect that Deputy Cuevas was chasing, 22-year-old Ryan Turner, was later arrested on vehicular manslaughter and other charges.

The DA's office announced charges against Turner for murder, evading an officer and driving or taking a vehicle without consent.

Turner is scheduled to be arraigned on March 20 at the Victorville Superior Courthouse.

The deadly chain of events unfolded Monday when Turner took off in a stolen vehicle, leading deputies on a dangerous high speed chase, investigators said.

"At speeds over 100 miles an hour that included running at least four red lights, Deputy Cuevas was involved in his job duties and assisting with a call of a stolen vehicle," said San Bernardino County District Attorney Jason Anderson.

Cuevas leaves behind two young children. He had spent three years serving and protecting the people of San Bernardino County, but in an instant, his watch ended.

Cuevas was described as a devoted family man and by his law enforcement partners as a "cop's cop." He previously worked in the Upland Police Department.

Prosecutors filed a Watson murder charge, a severe penalty reserved for those who continue to commit life-threatening crimes despite prior convictions.

"This is not the first time that Mr. Turner has fled when he's been caught with a stolen car. In fact it seems as if each time it is what occurs that certainly factored into the idea that this is a murder case," said Anderson.

According to the Rialto Police Department, Turner has previously been arrested for evading police and causing another crash involving an officer. He also has a lengthy record for vehicular thefts.

That happened back on Jan. 29, 2024 when he led authorities on a chase in a reported stolen car. The chase started in Rialto and made its way into San Bernardino with Turner reaching speeds up to 90 mph, the department said.

While in custody at that time, officials say he tried to run away on foot while handcuffed before he was apprehended yet again.

Turner was booked for possession of a stolen vehicle, grand theft auto and felony evading. However, he entered a plea deal in Feb. 2024 and pleaded no contest to grand theft auto, and received a 16-month sentence in county prison.

He was released after serving only eight months of his sentence, the police department said.

Sheriff Shannon Dicus did not hold back his frustration, directing his anger at the policies that allowed Turner to be back on the streets so soon.

"We talked about half-time when somebody goes to prison rather than serving their full sentence. I think in this case if we do the math Hector Cuevas could have been alive had Ryan Turner served his full sentence," said Dicus.

A vigil to remember Cuevas is set to take place Wednesday night in San Bernardino.