UPDATED: HEMET: Authorities make arrest in hit and run that killed 66-year-old

HEMET – Police officials are crediting a citizen’s anonymous tip with leading them to identifying and arresting an East Hemet resident who allegedly killed a 66-year-old Hemet resident in a hit and run traffic collision Tuesday, March 7. (Click link to view original story.)

The victim, later identified as Danny Silva, was killed about 6:18 p.m., while crossing Florida Avenue in Hemet. The deadly accident happened near Mayflower Street, between Chase Bank and McDonald’s.

Silva was reportedly not using a cross walk when he was struck.

Silva’s family, friends, loved ones, and members from throughout the community held a candlelight vigil for Silva the night after his death, Wednesday, March 8. The vigil was held near where Silva was fatally struck.

According to family and friends, Silva lived about a block away from where the deadly hit and run happened.

After the deadly incident, Silva’s cousin, Ofelia Saldana, told KTLA5 that the victim’s family wants the driver to come forward.

“(Danny) was a human…and you just don’t hurt people like that,” she said.

As their investigation continued, City of Hemet police officers and traffic investigators received an anonymous tip about 2 p.m., Friday, March 10, leading to the identification and arrest of Montez Dupree Landing, 42, of East Hemet.

The anonymous tipster told officers that the vehicle that struck and killed 66-year-old Danny Silva was in the Valle Vista area of east Hemet.

“The caller said the vehicle matched the description of the SUV involved in the collision, had damage consistent with having been involved in a traffic collision, and was suspiciously covered up by a car cover,” according to Hemet Police Sergeant Dan Reinbolt.

“Investigators responded to the area, located the white SUV, and impounded it as evidence,” Reinbolt said.

The owner of the SUV, who was later identified as Landing, turned himself in to officers at the Hemet Police Department later the same day, about 4 p.m.

“Landing was cooperative and provided investigators with a thorough statement,” according to Reinbolt.

After an investigation, Landing was booked into the Southwest Detention Center in Murrieta on suspicion of one felony count of hit and run resulting in death. He was also booked on numerous warrants related to DUI and driving with a suspended license.

An online jail records search revealed Landing is being held in lieu of $75,000 bail and is scheduled to be arraigned at an unspecified court March 14.

“The Hemet Police Department would like to thank the community for the flood of leads in this case, which have been pouring in on a daily basis,” Reinbolt said after Landing’s arrest. “We would especially like to thank the anonymous tipster for providing the location of the suspect vehicle which ultimately led to Mr. Landings arrest.”

Family members have set up a gofundme account to help offset Silva’s funeral expenses. The account had received nearly $1,500 in donations in the first five days.

Anyone who may have witnessed the collision or has any information which may help investigators should contact Hemet police officials at (951) 765-2400. Callers can refer to incident file number 17-2184 and can remain anonymous.

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Trevor Montgomery spent 10 years in the U.S. Army as an Orthopedic Specialist before joining the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department in 1998. He was medically retired after losing his leg in an off-duty accident.

During his time with the sheriff’s department, Trevor worked at several different stations, including the Robert Presley Detention Center, the Southwest Station in Temecula, the Hemet Station, and the Lake Elsinore Station, along with many other locations.