A Ceres resident is behind bars at the Stanislaus County Public Safety Center as Modesto Police continue to investigate his alleged role in a homicide that occurred Friday evening at the northbound Highway 99 off-ramp at Sixth Street.

Ruben Olvera, 32, of Ceres, turned himself into a Modesto Police sergeant who he found in downtown Modesto Saturday, just after 3 p.m. on Saturday. He was booked into the county jail on charges of homicide and domestic violence and drunken driving.

Modesto Police said that female pedestrian Michelle Gonzalez, 33, of Hayward was struck by Olvera’s vehicle and that he sped off at 8:53 p.m. Friday. Paramedics tended to the woman but she died a short time later at a Modesto hospital. Details are sketchy but witnesses say the car allegedly driven by Olvera exited the freeway at the Central Modesto exit which rises up to Sixth Street. At some point Gonzalez got out of the car and was on foot. Witnesses heard her screaming prior to being struck by the vehicle.

A Modesto Police news release indicated that “The victim was known to Ruben, and it appears they had been involved in a relationship. The details of the relationship are still being investigated.”

Anyone with information pertaining to the homicide investigation is encouraged to contact Modesto Police Detective Bolinger at 209-342-9162.

Olvera has a criminal history. In November 2014, he was arrested by Ceres Police after a tense half-hour standoff with police in the 2900 block of Dale Avenue. He was subdued and arrested after several being shot several times with a beanbag shotgun.

In July 2020 Olvera was arrested for auto theft and an assault with a knife in Hayward.

Tips also may be left anonymously with Stanislaus Area Crime Stoppers at 209-521-4636.