Critically injured MPD officer out of ICU, and he wants to hear from you
Juan Arroyo, the officer who was seriously injured after his squad car was struck by a pickup being pursued by the California Highway Patrol, is out of intensive care and, according to his sister, dreaming about some good eats.
Modesto Police said on their Facebook page that Arroyo is out of ICU and though he has a long road ahead, he is “expected to make a full recovery and even planning a Police Week trip next year to Washington, D.C.”
“So, many of you know how much of a social butterfly my brother is,” Carolina Arroyo said in a post shared on the Peace Officer Memorial Group’s Facebook page. “Even through hard times, Juan continues to be that social butterfly. He’s recovering well. Juan is being himself and has started a list of things he wants once he gets out of the hospital (mostly food).”
In the meantime, she said, Arroyo would like to hear from his many well-wishers.
“Juan has asked for pictures and letters/drawings.”
Arroyo, a five-year veteran of the department, was heading west on Yosemite Boulevard to help the California Highway Patrol in the early morning hours of Jan. 16, when his vehicle was struck by a Toyota Tundra driven by Modesto resident Nazario Daniel Castillo IV, 25.
LINK:Arroyo recovery (2)
The CHP was chasing Castillo after an officer spotted him going north in the southbound lanes of Highway 99. Officers tried to pull him over after he got off the highway at Standiford Avenue, but he got back onto 99 and headed south. before getting off at Tuolumne Boulevard.
Castillo was driving north on South Santa Ana Avenue when he ran a stop sign at Yosemite and broadsided Arroyo’s patrol car, authorities said.
Arroyo suffered major injuries including fractured bones, said CHP Modesto-area spokesman Officer Thomas Olsen.
LINK:Arroyo recovery (3)
After the crash, Castillo showed signs of intoxication, the CHP reported. He remains in Stanislaus County Jail on suspicion of driving under the influence and causing bodily injury, reckless driving and evading an officer with a disregard for safety, along with other charges.
He’s scheduled to be in court March 1.
Letters, patches and drawings can be sent to the Peace Officers Memorial Group, P.O. Box 577105, Modesto, 95357.
This story was originally published January 25, 2018 at 5:38 PM with the headline "Critically injured MPD officer out of ICU, and he wants to hear from you."