Six search warrants served, two arrested in connection with Ceres homicide

SWAT teams served search warrants at six homes in Ceres and Modesto on Wednesday morning and two people were arrested in connection with a Dec. 26 homicide at a Ceres bar.

Ceres police led the searches with the assistance of the Modesto Police Department, the Stanislaus County Sheriff’s Deparment, Turlock Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigations.

Derrick Farrow, 33, of Ceres was shot to death outside Runaround Sue’s bar at 1409 Mitchell Road following a fight that started inside.

Sgt. Danny Vierra said two people were arrested in connection with the murder Wednesday morning, two others are wanted, and detectives are trying to identify as many as four more suspects.

SWAT teams were used and federal agents with the Central Valley Gang Impact Task Force participated in the searches and arrests because all of the suspects are documented gang members, Vierra said.

Searches were conducted and evidence seized at Ceres homes in the 1200 block of Snow Ridge Court, 1600 block of Morello Drive, 1500 block of Caulfield Drive and 1600 block of Central Avenue, as well Modesto homes in the 3400 block of Yerington Court and 2300 block of Gutherie Street.

Richard Isaac Monroy, 18, was arrested at his home on Gutherie and Gabriel Enrique Gallardo, 18, was arrested at his home Yerington, Vierra said. Both were booked on suspicion of murder and participating in a criminal street gang. They are being held without bail.

Two other suspects, Eric Padilla-Sanchez, 20, and Luis Martinez, 18, both of Ceres, are wanted for murder and remain at large.

Vierra said Padilla-Sanchez is the suspected shooter. The murder weapon has not been found.

A woman who lives near the home searched on Caulfield said she awoke to sirens and a loud crashing noise.

“I heard an officer using the intercom saying over and over, ‘This is the Ceres Police department. We have a warrant to search the home. We believe you are armed and dangerous and will treat you as such. Come out with yours hands where we can see them, now!’” she said in an email, adding that two men did emerge after about an hour.

At least two schools, Blaker Kinser Junior High School in Ceres and Enochs High School in east Modesto, were locked down during the searches.

Vierra said it’s unclear what prompted the fight at Runaround Sue’s last month. Detectives believe at least eight people were involved and continue work to identify the remaining suspects.

Anyone with information about the murder is asked to call Detective Arthur Hively at (209) 538-5728 or Detective Travis Hudson (209) 538-5743.

This story was originally published January 21, 2015 at 9:56 AM with the headline "Six search warrants served, two arrested in connection with Ceres homicide."