CHP investigator shot while investigating freeway shooting Thursday evening

On Thursday, December 16th, 2021, at 5:45 pm, the Turlock Police Department was dispatched to an 11-99 call at the intersection of High St and Lane St, Turlock. An 11-99 is a radio code that is called whenever an officer needs immediate assistance in a life or death situation.

Investigators with the California Highway Patrol and Stanislaus County Auto Theft Task Force had located what they believed to be the suspect vehicle in a shooting that had occurred on the freeway the evening prior. As investigators approached the vehicle, a subject, later identified as Henry Moreno Arroyo, 40, of Turlock, began shooting at them. Investigators returned fire at Arroyo and then he fled on foot.

As investigators chased Arroyo, a second subject also began firing at them. He eventually also fled on foot. It is currently unknown if investigators returned fire at him.

Investigators were able to eventually catch back up with Arroyo and take him into custody. He was not injured.

Turlock Police officers, Stanislaus County Sheriff deputies, and officers with the Modesto Police Department, Ceres Police Department, and Stanislaus State Police Department all immediately responded to the scene and began a search for the second shooter.

Despite their best efforts, the second shooter was never found and the search was terminated in the early morning hours.

During this incident, one of the California Highway Patrol investigators involved suffered a non-life threatening gunshot wound. He was ground transported by American Medical Response to a local hospital. His current condition remains unknown.

It is currently unknown at this time which agencies had officers who fired their weapons.

Whenever an officer involved shooting occurs, a number of investigations are launched. Because the incident occurred within Turlock city limits, the Turlock Police Department is conducting a criminal investigation into the matter just like they would with any other crime that occurs within the city. The Stanislaus County District Attorney’s Office will also be conducting a separate investigation into the matter to ensure that the officers who fired their weapons were in compliance with local, state, and federal laws. Finally, the agencies who had officers who fired their weapons will also be conducting independent internal investigations to ensure that their officers followed departmental policy and their training.

Arroyo was booked into the Stanislaus County Public Safety Center on charges of attempted murder.

The investigation remains on-going. Anyone with information that could assist in the investigation is encouraged to call Detective Brandon Bertram at 209-664-7323.