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They got their man. Jorge Arroyo-Garcia, better known as Armando “Chato” Garcia, was extradited from Mexico and turned over to Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department investigators before dawn at the San Ysidro border crossing. They took him by law enforcement convoy to the Orange County jail in Santa Ana. Garcia has been sought in the 2002 shooting death of Los Angeles County sheriff's deputy David March. Garcia had played a starring role on editions of "America's Most Wanted" and in heated official discussions over the ability of Los Angeles criminals to disappear into Mexico. Interesting play-by-play in the press release from the U.S. Marshal's Service:
LOS ANGELES, January 9, 2007 - Jorge Arroyo-Garcia, alias and better known as Armando “Chato” Garcia, a vicious fugitive who was wanted for the murder of Los Angeles County Deputy Sheriff David March has been extradited from Mexico to California by United States Marshals and agents of the Agencia Federal de Investigaciones (AFI). Garcia was flown from Mexico City to Tijuana late last night by AFI agents and Deputy United States Marshals and turned over to Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Investigators at the San Ysidro Port of Entry in the pre-dawn hours this morning. Arroyo-Garcia was immediately transported to the Orange County Jail in Santa Ana by a convoy of Sheriff’s Deputies, California Highway Patrol Officers and Deputy Marshals.
Arroyo-Garcia has been in a Mexican prison awaiting extradition since February 23, 2006, following his arrest in Tonala, Jalisco, Mexico by AFI agents acting on information provided by the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office, the Pacific Southwest Regional Fugitive Task Force, and the Mexico City Field Office of the United States Marshals Service. The case gained national attention as a result of the egregious murder and the fact that he had fled to Mexico to avoid arrest. Arroyo-Garcia was profiled on the Fox television program “America’s Most Wanted” several times, as well other local and national news outlets to include web sites such as “www.escapingjustice.com.”
A Mexican national and known drug dealer, Arroyo-Garcia has a long history with Los Angeles law enforcement. He has numerous arrests for various crimes such as possession of a tec-9 machine pistol and narcotics distribution. On three separate occasions, he had been deported back to Mexico, only to return. Arroyo-Garcia bragged to friends that he would never be taken alive and pledged to kill any officer who tried to arrest him.
Sadly, on April 29, 2002, Deputy David March became the victim of that pledge. At 10:30 that morning, Deputy March had initiated a traffic stop on a 1998 black Nissan. As always, he entered the Nissans’ license plate number into his Mobile Data Terminal and got out of his patrol car to speak with the driver. Deputy March never made it to the driver’s car. Police reports indicate that Deputy March was shot multiple times in the face, neck and chest. The shooter fled, leaving Deputy March to die on the side of the road. Deputy March left behind a wife and daughter.
Investigation into the case uncovered a photograph of the car and driver and then ultimately a name. Arroyo-Garcia, now a fugitive, bragged to friends about the murder and on one occasion even contacted local law enforcement by telephone, and threatened to kill anyone police officer who went looking for him. Officials believed that Arroyo-Garcia had fled to Mexico.
Chief Inspector John Clark, Task Force Commander of the U.S. Marshals Pacific Southwest Regional Fugitive Task Force, applauded the work of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, the District Attorney’s Office and the Deputy Marshals and agents from Mexico’s Federal Investigative Agency (AFI) for their hard work, persistence and, most importantly, their exemplary cooperation.
“The extradition of Armando Garcia is a perfect example of the benefits of the international law enforcement community, the judicial system and governments working together. What you may not realize is the significance of the law enforcement partnerships that led to the successful conclusion of this case. Deputy Sheriffs, Mexican federal agents, the Los Angeles district attorney’s offices, Deputy United States Marshals, the Department of Justice Office of International Affairs all worked relentlessly and cohesively to ensure that Garcia would be caught and brought to justice.
Adam Torres, United States Marshal for the Central District of California, applauded the efforts of all the participating agencies for their continued cooperation and assistance and remarked, “Many people believe that they can commit murder here in Los Angeles and simply run to Mexico and hide. The arrest of Armando Garcia is just one more example of how wrong they are. The District Attorney’s Office, the United States Marshals Service and Mexico’s federal agents have a message for those of you hiding in Mexico, by working together and combining our recourses, we will find you and bring you to justice.”
Torres added, “I would also like to thank the media and extend a special thanks to America’s Most Wanted and our media partners who have profiled him many times. The partnerships that were the cornerstone of this success story transcend this single arrest, and are in place here in the Los Angeles area every day. As a matter of fact, it was because of this solid foundation of communication, cooperation and mutual respect that has been built over the years that this international extradition was executed flawlessly and professionally.”
For more information on Fugitive Task Forces, go to: http://www.usmarshals.gov/investigations/taskfrcs/tskforcs.htm.