Suspect Wanted In Biker Funeral Killing Arrested

Published February 26, 2012 8:54PM (EST)

SAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) — Police have arrested a suspect in the death of a motorcycle gang member, ending a months-long search for the victim's fellow Hells Angels member who has been wanted since the fatal shooting at a California funeral.

San Jose police Sgt. Jason Dwyer says Steve Ruiz was taken into custody Saturday night at a motel in Fremont by members of the department's covert response unit.

The 38-year-old Ruiz had been the subject of a widespread manhunt since Steve Tausan was shot and killed during a funeral service for Jeffrey "Jethro" Pettigrew at Oak Hill Cemetery in San Jose on Oct. 15.

Police believe that Ruiz shot and killed Tausan when a fight broke out at the funeral.

The 52-year-old Tausan was one of 4,000 people attending services for Pettigrew, the president of the Hells Angels San Jose chapter, who was slain during a brawl with a rival biker gang in a Nevada casino on Sept. 23.


By Salon Staff

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