Police arrest another in murder case

Police on Tuesday arrested one of two suspects wanted in last month's slaying of a Somerton man, while two of three others already in custody in connection with the killing were formally charged with murder.

Raymundo Rivera Lazo, 19, was arrested at his mother's home in San Luis, Ariz., by the city's police after a rookie officer noticed the air conditioner was on in the home, said department spokesman Sgt. Ernesto Lugo.

Charged Tuesday with first-degree murder and kidnapping in the death of Omar Celaya Enriquez, 24, of Somerton, were Jose Miramontes Garcia, 24, 3327 W. 1st St., and Carlos Joaquin Sanchez, 26, 1335 Washington Lane, San Luis, Ariz.

The fourth suspect, Jose Crecencio Talamantes Sanchez, 25, no address available, was charged only with hindering prosecution.

Still at large in the killing is Raymundo Lazo's older brother, Miguel Rivera Lazo, 21.

Enriquez's bullet-riddled body was found May 19 in bushes in the Paradise Cove area of the Colorado River, according to Lt. Eben Bratcher, a spokesman for the Yuma County Sheriff's Office. Paradise Cove is northwest of Avenue B and 1st Street.

Deputies reported the murder is believed to be related to a check-cashing scheme. The suspects were identified by Yuma police as being involved in the scheme, according to deputies.

Lugo said Raymundo Lazo was taken into custody without incident. Sheriff's investigators picked him up from the San Luis jail and drove him to sheriff's detention center in Yuma.

"It always feels good to be able to support the surrounding agencies," Lugo said.

The home where Raymundo Lazo was arrested, located in the 800 block of Carrier Lane in San Luis, was on a list of places throughout the county known to be hangouts for him, Lugo said.

Lugo said the officer, who asked his name not be used, called for backup after seeing someone peek out the window of the home.

After arresting Raymundo Lazo, officers searched the home for Miguel Lazo but did not locate him.

Miguel Lazo is described as 5 foot, 11 inches tall, weighing 210 pounds and Hispanic. Anyone with information about his location is asked to call Investigator Raul Garcia at the sheriff's office, 783-4427, or Silent Witness, 782-7463.

During the trio's arraignment Tuesday, Yuma pro tem Justice of the Peace David Cooper kept the bonds for Garcia and Carlos Sanchez at $1 million each, which were set during a weekend court session. However, because Jose Sanchez wasn't charged with murder, his bond was reduced to $90,059.

Although Jose Sanchez didn't list an address when he was arraigned, he is believed to have lived at 876 Date Ave., No. 17, in May when Enriquez was shot to death, according to deputies.

Deputies believe Enriquez was beaten and tied up at the Date Avenue address, then was forced into the trunk of a car and driven to the Colorado River, where he was shot at least five times. During the time of the shooting, Jose Sanchez allegedly stayed behind at the Date Avenue home to clean up blood.

Bratcher said the victim isn't believed to have been killed at the place where the body was found. Instead, it is believed the body was dumped there. No identification was found on the body and Enriquez was later identified through tattoos.