Maria Asusena Arellano was arrested in Aurora on a Multnomah County warrant for five counts of hindering prosecution.

Arellano was arrested near her Barnards Road home around noon.

The charges stem from the continuing investigation of the Oct. 6, 2007, fatal shooting of 26-year-old Fernando Gutierrez-Bustos in Multnomah County.

Arellano was an active reserve police officer at Aurora at that time, but her involvement in the case is not related to her law enforcement status, said Deputy Travis Gullberg, Multnomah County Sheriff’s spokesman. Details of her involvement in the investigation were not available. In a statement released Thursday, Aurora Police Chief Chris Conboy said he became aware in late 2007 that Arellano was under investigation by the Multnomah County Sheriff’s office.

At that time, the extent of the investigation was described as illegal firearms discharged. No documentation was provided to Aurora Police.

The Aurora Police cooperated with the investigation.

The department allowed Arellano to continue working about 16 hours a month under the direct supervision of a regular police officer.

During that time, she did not investigate crimes, issue citations or testify in court, Conboy’s statement said.

In March, Multnomah County authorities notified Convoy that they had connected Arellano to a felony crime.

Conboy said Multnomah County Sheriff’s office still would release no notes or reports on the case because it was an ongoing investigation. On March 24, Arellano was asked to meet with Conboy at the police station. When Conboy confirmed that the meeting was related to the Multnomah County investigation, she resigned instead.

Gutierrez-Busto was slain and two other people wounded at a family dance concert at the Pleasant Valley Grange Hall at 17155 S.E. Foster Road.

Deputies said 100 to 200 people attended the event at the grange hall in southeastern Multnomah County, near the Clackamas County line. Police borrowed a Tri-Met bus to sequester the potential witnesses that morning.

Deputies believe the homicide was not gang-related, but may be linked to the distribution of drugs. They have yet to establish a motive.

They believe one person committed the murder but other people were involved.

The case has been a difficult one for investigators, Gullberg said. Authorities have received little or no cooperation from potential witnesses, persons of interest or the victim’s family, Gullberg said.