A Stanislaus County Sheriff’s deputy was killed Sunday in a solo vehicle collision that occurred while responding to a vehicle pursuit in Riverbank.
The deceased was identified by the sheriff’s department as Anthony “Tony” Hinostroza. He was 45 years old.
At 9:48 p.m., Sunday, Riverbank Police Services deputies were dispatched to the intersection of Oakdale Road and Patterson Road in Riverbank for a report of a driver of a silver Cadillac Escalade passed out behind the wheel.
Deputies arrived and the driver of the Escalade sped off leading them on a pursuit. The high-speed pursuit wound through Riverbank and into Modesto, where deputies deployed spike strips.
The Escalade became disabled at the intersection of Fine Avenue and Cambridge Court in Modesto. The driver fled from the vehicle and began fighting with deputies forcing them to deploy a less-lethal bean bag to subdue him and take him into custody.
The driver was identified as Jonathan Carrillo-Gonzalez, 30, of Modesto. He was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence, felony evasion and resisting arrest. His license was suspended in June 2018 for driving under the influence and has had at least three prior convictions for DUI in the past nine years, according to Stanislaus County Superior Court records.
As deputies were attempting to take the suspect into custody, emergency dispatchers started receiving calls reporting a collision involving a patrol car.
The sheriff’s department stated the patrol car collided with a power pole at Terminal Avenue and Claribel Road. Emergency responders arrived quickly to the site, but Hinostroza was pronounced deceased at the scene.
The collision is under investigation by the California Highway Patrol.
Hinostroza was a 19-year veteran with the
Stanislaus County Sheriff’s Department. He was hired as a deputy sheriff in
January 1999, and assigned to the patrol division out of the Stanislaus County
Sheriff’s Department main office. During his career, Deputy Hinostroza served
as a patrol deputy, K9 handler, Gang Detective, SWAT team member and Field
Training Officer. Hinostroza was a Police Explorer for Ceres Police Department
from 1990 until 1992 when he enlisted to serve in the United States Marine
Corps until 1996. Hinostroza then worked as a reserve police officer and
dispatcher for the City of Waterford before being hired by then-Sheriff Les
Weidman. Hinostroza leaves behind one adult son.
The Stanislaus Sworn Deputies Association has established a Tony Hinostroza
Memorial Fund. Donations can be made several ways: In person at any West
America Bank Branch to the Tony Hinostroza Memorial Fund; by mail to Stanislaus
Sworn Deputies Association, Tony Hinostroza Memorial Fund, P.O. Box 2314,
Ceres, CA 95307; or online at https://www.stanislaussworn.com/donation.html
Please be aware there are no other approved or authorized memorial fund or
online fundraising accounts that will be established.