A young woman whose father is a sergeant with the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) was arrested for the hit-and-run death of a 60-year-old man riding his bicycle in Gardena. The 22-year-old woman was arrested on suspicion of vehicular manslaughter, perjury, filing a false police report, and felony hit and run.
The car accident occurred on the night of June 26 at the corner of Vermont Avenue and El Segundo Boulevard. Early the next morning, the woman went to the Huntington Park police, where she reported her car stolen. She told police she had found the car, which is registered to her father, parked near the home where she lives with her family. She said it appeared to have been in a traffic collision. The Huntington Park police officer who took the report suspected a connection with the hit-and-run accident in Gardena, and notified the Gardena Police Department. She turned herself in to police on July 3.
The woman’s father, a sergeant with the LAPD, is reportedly being investigated by their internal affairs division to determine whether he did anything improper or illegal after the accident to help his daughter. He has also been interviewed by the Gardena Police Department.
Although the woman has maintained her innocence, police believed after speaking with her that she was involved in the bicyclist’s death. However, because investigators are still waiting for results of DNA and other forensic evidence to present to the district attorney, they did not require her to post bail before releasing her with a signed promise to appear in court. Police say that this has nothing to do with her relationship to a police officer, but is common practice when there is not enough evidence to hold someone, and when the person arrested has an attorney who is in communication with them.
The woman in this case retained counsel who arranged for her to turn herself in to police, and who is remaining in contact with authorities as the investigation continues. It is essential whenever someone finds themselves under suspicion for a vehicular accident to retain a car accident lawyer with experience handling this type of case to guide them through the process and protect their rights.
Source: Dailybreeze.com, “Daughter of LAPD sergeant arrested for hit-and-run death in Gardena” Jim Crogan, Jul. 04, 2013