PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Philadelphia police have made an arrest in the case of the Oct. 12 killing of Officer Richard Mendez and shooting of Officer Raul Ortiz.
At a press conference Monday afternoon, police said they arrested Yobranny Martinez Fernández, 18, in New Jersey.
They say around 2 a.m. Monday they discovered Fernández was in the Jersey area. Police arrested him around 4 a.m. using Mendez's handcuffs.
First Deputy Police Commissioner Frank Vanore says information that developed over the weekend put Fernández at the scene of the crime.
“We believed that individual participated in the theft of the vehicle and was subsequently involved in the shooting and homicides of Officer Ortiz, Officer Mendez, as well the individual that was with them, Jesús Durán," he explained. "We believe that one of these accomplices was responsible for firing a firearm that shot all three of these individuals.”
Durán, 18, was taken to CHOP in a dark Dodge Duran that night shortly after Mendez was brought to Penn Presbyterian Medical Center, where he later died.
Police have not yet revealed who or what led them to the arrest of Fernández, but the reward has increased to $237,400.
Fernández is currently at New Jersey State Police awaiting extradition to Philadelphia for charges of murder.
Stay with KYW Newsradio for more as this story develops.