Wednesday, Jan. 07, 2009

Man arrested in Modesto shooting

Victim of year's first homicide found in alley near downtown

Authorities arrested a suspect in the shooting death of a 33-year-old man found in an alley just east of downtown Modesto early Tuesday.

Modesto police found Ricky Dale Conway Jr. of Modesto in the alley behind the 200 block of Kelley Street, said police spokesman Sgt. Brian Findlen. Conway was dead at the scene.

Findlen said police arrested Donaciano Rocha Ocegueda, 37, of Modesto on suspicion of murder. Ocegueda was expected to be booked at the Stanislaus County Jail late Tuesday.

Conway's death is the first in Modesto, and Stanislaus County, this year.

Findlen said there is a house that faces the alley, which runs east to west south of Kelley and just east of James Street. He said officers responding to a 2:30 a.m. call of an injured man found Conway in the alley in front of the home.

About 5:40 a.m., Stanislaus County sheriff's deputy Jeff Dirkse spotted a suspicious car in the area of Crows Landing Road and Winmore Way in south Modesto.

Findlen said Dirkse pulled over the car, and dispatchers told him the car's registration was linked to the house where Conway was found. Neither the victim nor the suspect lived at the house.

Two men, one of them Ocegueda, were in the car. The men were detained and questioned by homicide detectives.

Several hours passed as the detectives questioned other people before they linked Ocegueda to the shooting, Findlen said. The second man found in the car was not charged with a crime.

Detectives declined to release any details about the shooting, citing their ongoing investigation. Findlen would not say how the shooting occurred or whether detectives recovered a weapon. He did say there were no indications the shooting was gang-related.

Police ask anyone with information about this shooting to call Crime Stoppers at 521-4636. Tipsters also can e-mail tips through the Crime Stoppers Web site, www.modestopolice.com/CrimeStoppers, or text tips to CRIMES (274637) by typing "Tip704" plus your message. Callers to Crime Stoppers can remain anonymous and are eligible for a cash reward.

Bee staff writer Rosalio Ahumada can be reached at rahumada@modbee.com or 578-2394.