Yuma man wanted in murder case arrested at border
Jun 12, 2012, 5:10 PM | Updated: 5:10 pm
YUMA, Ariz. – Authorities say a Yuma man wanted in a murder case has been
arrested at the southern Arizona border.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers say 31-year-old Manuel Bustamante
Reyes Jr. was taken into custody at the San Luis Port after he applied for entry
into the country through a pedestrian lane.
A records check showed Reyes was wanted on a homicide warrant and he was turned
over to the Yuma County Sheriff’s Department.
Authorities say Reyes is suspected in the killing of 33-year-old Kendall Smith,
who was beaten with a baseball bat on April 18 and later died at a Yuma
hospital.
Reyes is being held on $1 million bond on suspicion of first-degree murder and
other charges. Authorities say a public defender was being appointed to his
case.
