Sheriff blames sanctuary laws in officer’s death

UPDATE: 12/28/18 5:30 p.m. The sheriff leading the investigation into the shooting death of a California police officer took aim at state sanctuary laws that limit cooperation with U.S. immigration authorities.

Stanislaus County Sheriff Adam Christianson told reporters Friday that the suspect was in the country illegally and that if he had been deported for previous DUI arrests, Cpl. Ronil Singh would still be alive.

He says while he does not want to politicize an officer’s death, this discussion must be had.

“My point is why are we providing sanctuary to gang members, criminals, it’s a conversation we need to have,” says Sheriff Christianson.

Christianson blamed California’s sanctuary law, SB54, for preventing local authorities from reporting Gustavo Perez Arriaga to federal immigration officials.

The Sheriff saying, “this is a criminal illegal alien, with prior criminal activity that should have been reported to Ice. If he wasn’t here, he wouldn’t have been driving drunk and he wouldn’t be reported to officer Singh and the encounter, the stop, the enforcement stop, potentially never would have occurred.”

He spoke at the news conference about making laws stricter as the Singh’s brother wept beside him.

“I’m suggesting the outcome could have been different if law enforcement wasnt’ restricted, prohibited and had their hands tied because of political interference.” He continues, “under SB 54 in California based on two arrests for DUI and other active warrants this criminal was out there, law enforcement would have been prevented, prohibited from sharing any information with ICE about this criminal gang member, ladies and gentlemen this is not how you protect a community,” says Sheriff Christianson.

He says Gustavo Perez Arriaga was from Mexico and had been in the U.S. for several years after illegally entering the country through the Arizona border.

He says five more people including have been arresting for helping Perez Arriaga escape; including his brother and a co-worker for misleading investigators.