Man detained in the Los Angeles recruits crash is released

Authorities detained a 22-year-old man on charges of attempted murder of a peace officer after his SUV drifted into the wrong lane and struck 25 Los Angeles County law enforcement recruits who were out for a training run. They later released him, citing the need for more investigation.

Diamond Bar resident Nicholas Joseph Gutierrez was freed late on Thursday. His arrival to his house was seen on camera by NBC4LA, who also stated that he remained silent when questioned.

The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department said in a statement that because of the investigation’s “extreme complexity, which includes ongoing interviews, video surveillance review, and additional evidence that needs to be analyzed, homicide investigators have released Mr. Gutierrez from the Sheriff’s Department custody today at about 9:55 PM.”

The SUV that swerved into the wrong side of the road early on Wednesday in the Whittier suburb, where a sheriff’s academy facility is situated, was driven by Gutierrez, according to authorities.

On an usual early-morning run across the neighborhood, 75 recruits for the sheriff’s office and other law enforcement organizations were arranged in formation. Eight road guards wearing fluorescent vests, two law enforcement cars, and sworn drill instructors were all part of the group, according to the authorities.

According to the agency, two candidates were still in critical condition on Thursday afternoon and five trainees had serious injuries.

Although Gutierrez was taken into custody later that afternoon, sheriff Alex Villanueva had earlier said at a press conference that “so far, it appears like it’s an accident, a tragic tragedy.”

Villanueva said to NewsNation on Thursday that there was “probable reason” to make the arrest and that investigators believed the collision was a “deliberate act.”

However, he said that Gutierrez will be freed “provisionally” “until we can have the case iron coated, iron proven, and presented to the DA for file consideration. We want to finish up the case’s loose ends right away before presenting it to the DA.

Christine Periman, who lives close to the collision site, said that she awoke early on Wednesday to a horrific sight playing out in front of her house, with recruits lying all over the street and one casualty whose leg was turning blue.

She said that it looked like the sirens simply continued coming for about two hours. It was just horrible.

She cried as she recalled how the recruits used to run past her house on a daily basis.

The county district attorney will determine whether to prosecute Gutierrez and for what crime. It is unknown whether Gutierrez has a lawyer and it was unable to contact him for comment.

The district attorney’s office has not officially been referred the matter for prosecution. Sheriff’s and highway patrol officials told authorities late Thursday that they wouldn’t be presenting a case at this time and that the suspect will be freed, according to a statement from the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s office.

Authorities from the sheriff’s office were questioned by some for their swift arrest of Gutierrez in connection with the attempted murder of a peace officer.

In Los Angeles County, the sheriff and the district attorney, George Gascón, have been at odds for a while. As a progressive reformer who was elected to government, Gascón has been criticized for being lax on crime.

Villanueva, who earlier this week conceded defeat in his own reelection campaign, brought up the difficulties with Gascón in the NewsNation interview, stating, “We obviously have major doubts about his capacity to prosecute.”

According to Laurie Levenson, a former federal prosecutor and professor of criminal law at Loyola Law School who is unconnected to the case, attempted murder often indicates that the driver had the intent to kill and wasn’t just distracted or lost control of the car.

Levenson said that a crucial issue is whether the sheriff’s department can conduct an unbiased examination given that the agency’s recruits were victims of the collision in an interview before the driver’s release. Because of this, she said, it’s crucial that prosecutors weigh the evidence before making a decision.

There is no question that they have pursued the most serious accusation conceivable, according to Levenson. “Given that the crime was perpetrated against one of their own, the issue is whether they are objective enough in appraising this. We must examine the available evidence.

The motorist failed a field sobriety test, according to the authorities.

Having sheriff’s authority examine more closely at the material, according to Rory Little, a professor at UC Hastings College of Law, might indicate that an agency is exercising proper caution rather than raising suspicion. Larger law enforcement organizations typically have no trouble finding investigators to work on a case who aren’t connected to it, he said.

It probably reflects favorably on the department if the sheriff’s office actually said, “Wait a second, slow down here,” Little said. “It’s too soon to make any judgments.”