Friday 18 November 2022 02:47 PM Man, 22, charged with attempted murder for mowing down 25 sheriff's recruits is ... trends now
The 22-year-old driver who allegedly plowed into a group of sheriff's recruits out for a training run in southern California has been released from jail after he was charged with attempted murder.
Nicholas Joseph Gutierrez was released on Thursday night after authorities said they wanted more time to gather evidence to present to the District Attorney's office.
The sheriff's department is required to present a case to the DA within 48 hours of an arrest, and they were not ready to do so.
LA County Sheriff Alex Villanueva said the suspect was 'provisionally' released, but indicated that investigators 'developed probable cause to believe it was intentional.'
'Right now, we want to tie up all the loose ends on the case and then present it to the DA,' Villanueva told NewsNation.
He said investigators believe it was intentional after 'an exhaustive interview process with everyone involved, with the video surveillance, the statements from the recruits, the physical evidence they have and what they got from the suspect himself.'
Gutierrez was taken into custody at the scene of the horrific crash along Mills Avenue in Whittier on Wednesday morning, as 25 recruits suffered injuries including head trauma, broken bones and a 'loss of limb,' with at least five critically injured.
Nicholas Joseph Gutierrez, 22, was released from jail after he was charged with attempted murder as authorities need more time to gather evidence in the case against him
LA County Sheriff Alex Villanueva said he was 'provisionally' released, but said that investigators 'developed probable cause to believe it was intentional'
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At many as 25 recruits suffered injuries including head trauma, broken bones and a 'loss of limb,' with five critically injured following the crash in Whittier on Wednesday morning
'It’s not like they arrested the wrong suspect,' Deputy Deanna Mares told CNN . 'They just want to make sure the investigation is going to be complete.'
'Due to the extreme complexity of the investigation, which includes ongoing interviews, video surveillance review, and additional evidence needed to be analyzed, homicide investigators have released Mr. Gutierrez from the Sheriff’s Department custody,' authorities said in a statement.
His release comes after new surveillance footage was released showing the terrifying moment the driver barreled into a group.
The graphic footage obtained by ABC7 shows the recruits wearing white t-shirts and jogging together in formation in the area of Mills Road and Telegraph Road with two patrol cars following behind seconds before the crash.
There appears to be little traffic on the residential street when a Honda SUV suddenly appears and slams right into the group of recruits with no clear indication of attempting to slow down.
The 22-year-old driver may have even sped up shortly before the collision, Villanueva previously said. He blew a 0.0 on a sobriety test, it was reported, and was detained at the scene. The cause of the collision remains under investigation.
'Some recruits are saying they heard the car accelerating, they estimate around 30 to 40 miles per hour,' the sheriff told ABCY. 'You can see how
