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Human smuggler suspect arrested in Ceres
• San Jose man apprehended on Graham Lane
Pedro Osunarios
Pedro Osunarios

A 35-year-old San Jose man wanted by authorities for human trafficking was arrested by Ceres Police on Feb. 28.

At 3:58 p.m. Officer Eric Souza was dispatched to 1527 Graham Lane for a report of wanted felon Pedro Osunarios spotted by a fugitive recovery company based in San Jose.

Dispatchers confirmed he was wanted by the U.S. Marshal’s Service for a no-bail felony warrant for human smuggling; by the San Jose Police Department for kidnapping, false imprisonment and felony assault; and by the Santa Clara Sheriff’s Office for several felony false insurance charges along with a traffic warrant.

As officers approached the house the garage door began to open and officers saw Osunarios sitting in the driver’s seat of a Honda Accord. The suspect started the car and to prevent him from leaving Officer Souza blocked him in with his SUV.

Officers ordered Osunarios to raise his hands up but he refused and tried to close the door remotely but Officer Souza broke the garage door’s beam to make the garage door reopen, allowing officers to enter the garage.

Officer Souza continued to order Osunarios to open his driver’s door and exit the Honda. He refused so Souza used his baton to shatter the driver door window. Officers grabbed the felon and handcuffed him after he unlocked the door.  

Officers completed a security check of the interior of the residence and found no other persons inside. Officers noted the entire residence was absent any furniture except for a single mattress and bedding in one of the back bedrooms.

During a search Officer Souza located $8,387 in cash, a fictitious Mexico ID card with the suspect’s photograph, bank cards made out to the fictitious name and three cellular phones.

Officer Souza transported Pedro to the Stanislaus County Public Safety Center where he was booked on several outstanding arrest warrants with a collective bail of $205,000.