LA PUENTE : Arson Suspect Is Killed by Unoccupied Patrol Car
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An arson suspect was killed when he was apparently run over by an unoccupied sheriff’s patrol car as deputies tried to arrest him, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department said.
Richard Avalos, 40, of La Puente died near Siesta Avenue and Temple Street in Bassett about 12:40 a.m. Wednesday.
Deputies were investigating reports of two men starting fires in trees, Los Angeles County sheriff’s spokeswoman Benita Hinojos said.
They found Avalos hiding near a garage. Avalos allegedly threw a beer can at a deputy who had jumped out of the car to chase him. As one deputy ran after the man, the other deputy drove past Avalos, stopped the car and tried to arrest Avalos.
The two men struggled on the ground and when the first deputy caught up with them, he saw the patrol car rolling backward toward his partner and Avalos. He warned the men of the danger, but it was too late, Hinojos said.
The other suspect had not been found.
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