El Monte man accused of killing passenger, Alhambra officer pleads not guilty

An El Monte man pleaded not guilty on Thursday, Dec. 4, to killing an Alhambra police officer and his own passenger in a collision between a reported stolen Hyundai SUV and a police cruiser during a pursuit.
Steven Ara Zapata, 27, was arraigned at Alhambra Superior Court on two counts of murder, one count of reckless driving causing injury and two counts of fleeing a pursuing officer’s vehicle causing death.
He faces 80 to 120 years to life in prison if convicted as charged.
Bail was set a