Garden Grove PD arrests homicide suspect after multi-agency probe that led to Mexico

Garden Grove police said Wednesday a suspect has been arrested in the shooting death of a man at a strip mall last month, culminating a multi-agency investigation that led authorities to Tecate, Mexico.

Richard Adrian “Joker” Trevino, 40, had been wanted for allegedly killing Frank “Moreno” Brady in the parking lot of a business at Harbor Boulevard and Trask Avenue just before noon on July 18.

Trevino allegedly shot Brady multiple times in the chest with a semi-automatic handgun. Brady was pronounced dead at UC Irvine Medical Center. A gray SUV was seen on surveillance video fleeing the scene.

For more than a month, several Garden Grove police officers, including those assigned to the Crimes Against Person unit, Career Criminal Apprehension Team, and Special Investigations unit, among others, conducted numerous surveillances that led them to Trevino.

On Friday, Aug. 19, a vehicle police connected to Trevino crossed into Mexico and sources led the investigation to an area in Tecate, Mexico.

On Monday, Aug. 22, U.S. marshals assigned to a special fugitive task force who work with Mexican federal police offered their assistance. Mexican authorities — liaison agents from the Policia Estatal Preventiva, Baja California — then went to an address in Tecate and located and detained Trevino.

Trevino, a U.S. citizen, was handed over to U.S. marshals in Calexico, who then contacted the GGPD.

Det. Mike Farley and other GGPD officers drove to the U.S./Mexico port of entry to interview Trevino on Monday night. They then arrested him. Trevino was booked at Orange County Jail on suspicion of homicide.

The GGPD calls Trevino a “serious and dangerous murder suspect” whose apprehension was the result of a “true team effort.”

In addition to U.S. marshals and Mexican federal police, detectives from the Anaheim PD, Westminster PD, Newport Beach PD, Santa Ana PD and San Diego PD assisted in the investigation.

Trevino is being held in lieu of $1 million bail and was scheduled to make a court appearance Wednesday, Aug. 24.

Trevino at the port of entry. Photo courtesy of GGPD

Detective Mike Farley (right), the lead investigator on the case, escorts Trevino to transportation. Photo courtesy of GGPD