SALIDA -- A music producer who gave a ride to the suspect in last week's fatal shooting of a California Highway Patrol officer said he is unfairly being linked to the crime.

"I'm being treated like some sort of cop killer when I didn't know anything about it," said Christopher Hicks, 41. "This is a definite infliction on my character."

Law enforcement officers said they consider Hicks a material witness, not a suspect in the Feb. 17 killing of officer Earl Scott, 36, who was shot in the face during a traffic stop near Ripon, about ten miles north of Modesto.

The suspect, Columbus Allen II, 30, is being held in Stanislaus County jail without bail, after turning himself in to police.

He stopped by Hicks' home and asked him for a ride to a nearby gas station soon after the shooting. Hicks and his 15-year-old son gave Allen a lift, then continued to the Oakland International Airport.

While waiting for a flight, Hicks said he was surrounded by police and dog units. He was arrested on unrelated misdemeanor drug and weapons charges and released Saturday night after posting bail of almost $57,000.

SWAT teams also surrounded his house, kicked in his door and confiscated computers and music, Hicks said.

Stanislaus County Sheriff officials had no updates on the investigation, Sgt. Mike Parker, a spokesman for the department, said on Sunday afternoon.