Police arrest suspect in west Modesto machete death

Investigators said they have made an arrest in the death of a 55-year-old man who was attacked with a machete at Mellis Park in west Modesto.

Anthony Brewer, 41, is accused in the death of Robbie Hull Jr. On Saturday, Brewer was booked at the Stanislaus County jail, Modesto police officials announced Monday morning.

Detectives had identified Brewer as a suspect in the death and issued a warrant for his arrest. On Friday night, Modesto detectives worked with Redwood City police to apprehend Brewer. The suspect was found in a Redwood City motel.

Brewer was being held Monday without bail. Prosecutors had not yet filed a criminal complaint against him. It was unclear when Brewer will make his first appearance in court.

Hull was found injured about 9:15 p.m. April 17. Officers responded to a 911 call of a man having been stabbed in the park. Modesto police have said Hull was found facedown on the ground with multiple stab wounds in his chest. He was taken to Doctors Medical Center in Modesto, where he died from his injuries.

Police said the preliminary investigation indicates Hull and Brewer fought in the park that night. Investigators believe Hull tried to walk away, but the fight escalated and Brewer stabbed Hull several times before leaving the area. Investigators recovered the large knife at the crime scene.

A few days after Hull’s death, investigators announced they had a description and nickname, but no real name, for the person they believed killed Hull. Investigators at that point were looking for a man who went by the name “Alabama.” Police had described him as a black man, 38 to 40 years old, 160 to 170 pounds, who might have been driving a “square or boxy car.”

This story was originally published April 27, 2015 at 10:38 AM with the headline "Police arrest suspect in west Modesto machete death."