A man accused of murder in an LAPD officer’s death rammed the officer’s patrol cruiser to help a friend evade arrest, law enforcement authorities said Thursday.

Los Angeles Police Chief Charlie Beck and Los Angeles District Attorney Jackie Lacey said a video review helped investigators piece together details of the 4 a.m. Saturday crash that killed Officer Roberto Sanchez, a newlywed who grew up in Santa Ana.

The collision injured Sanchez’s partner, Officer Richard Medina.

Mynor Enrique Varela, 20, of Harbor City is accused of intentionally crashing his Chevy Tahoe into the driver’s side of the patrol car near West Anaheim Street and Senator Avenue in Harbor City. The patrol car was pursuing a Chevy Camaro.

“He did this in order to aid a friend who was driving a Camaro that the police vehicle was following,” Beck said. “He intentionally committed a homicide.”

Lacey said the case was solved by several law enforcement agencies.

“It was also solved rather quickly by the use of forensic evidence, as well as videotape obtained from cameras nearby, including one that was on board in the vehicle that officer died in,” Lacey said. “All of these things worked together rather quickly to help us solve a rather tragic case.”

Varela’s brother, Bryan Valera, 19, is suspected of having been the passenger in the Tahoe at the time of the crash and was arrested about an hour after the crash, according to arrest records.

“He fled the scene like his brother; he failed to render aid to the injured and dying officer,” Beck said.

Bryan Varela was released early under realignment actions from a 22-month state prison sentence for a DUI and evading a police officer in September 2012, according to court records.

He has been sent to county jail pending further investigation, Beck said.

Lacey and Beck did not accept questions or provide further details during the news conference Thursday morning.

“We believe it is something that should be litigated in court,” Lacey said.

Mynor Enrique Varela pleaded not guilty Wednesday to one count of murder, one count of vehicular manslaughter with gross negligence, two counts of assault on a peace officer and one count of leaving the scene of an accident. He also faces a special-circumstance allegation of second-degree murder of a peace officer. He faces a maximum sentence of life in prison if convicted.

Thursday marked the yearly remembrance for fallen LAPD officers. Sanchez was the latest addition to the 207 names on the list and the third officer to die in wrecks in the past two months.

“The entire Los Angeles Police Department grieves for the loss of Roberto Sanchez,” Beck said. “That grief is somewhat tempered by our gratitude to not only robbery homicide division but also to the Sheriff’s Department, the District Attorney’s Office and major incident investigation team for the fantastic work that they did in bringing this case to the district attorney.

Staff writer Alma Fausto contributed to this report.

Contact the writer: aduranty@losangelesregister.com