Riverside Fatal Crash Leads to Arrest of Texas Sheriff’s Corporal

A former sheriff’s corporal from Texas is currently in custody, awaiting extradition to California. He is being connected to a fatal hit-and-run incident in Riverside, where a man was killed while attempting to refuel his pickup truck on the side of Interstate 215.

The California Highway Patrol reported that Giovanni Ceja, a 31-year-old individual from San Antonio, Texas, was arrested on Monday without any resistance by the Bexar County Sheriff’s Department. Ceja is held on multiple charges, including murder, manslaughter with gross intoxication, felony driving under the influence causing injury, and felony hit and run.

Prior to his arrest, Ceja worked as a detention corporal for the Bexar County Sheriff’s Department. However, Sheriff Javier Salazar stated in a Texas press conference that Ceja resigned following his arrest. The sheriff also mentioned that Ceja was on vacation in California and had borrowed a vehicle from a relative at the time of the incident. It was reported that Ceja consumed a significant amount of alcohol before deciding to drive the vehicle.

The fatal crash took place around 1:45 a.m. on August 7th, specifically on the southbound Moreno Valley (215) Freeway, just south of state Route 91.

According to investigators, Gilberto Sotelo, a 38-year-old resident of Lake Elsinore, was in the process of refueling his disabled Chevrolet Silverado on the right shoulder when a Honda Ridgeline collided with him and his vehicle.

Sotelo tragically lost his life at the scene, as confirmed by emergency personnel.

The driver responsible for the collision fled the scene and continued heading southbound on I-215, according to CHP officials.

A few days later, on August 9th, law enforcement found the Honda involved in the incident at a repair facility in Riverside. The vehicle was subsequently confiscated as evidence by the CHP.