Long Beach Police have arrested a man who is suspected in a fatal hit-and-run crash that took the life of a man and his dog last week.
The IB Times reports that the accident took place on Friday, May 26th, when officers with the Long Beach Police department were responding to a burglary call that was taking place at a business licensed to sell marijuana. Dispatchers were advised that the suspects were cutting down the cannabis plants inside the shop.
Police arrived and arrested three suspects, while a fourth suspect, 26-year-old Jyvante West, fled the scene in a Mercedes Benz sedan. Long Beach Police officers gave chase of the suspect. Authorities say that the chase, which lasted approximately five minutes, covered surface streets in Long Beach as well as portions of the 103 Freeway and the 70 Freeway.
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As West was fleeing authorities, he struck area resident, Jose Hernandez, 32, who was walking his dog. The force of impact with the Mercedes sent Hernandez into the air an estimated 100 feet in the air. West then lost control of his vehicle and crashed into a nearby fence. Police caught up to the suspect and placed him under arrest. Both Hernandez and his dog reportedly died at the scene of the accident.
Investigators believe that West had been driving while impaired at the time of the fatal crash. West has been charged on suspicion of driving under the influence of drugs, hit and run, felony evading, and suspicion of gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated. A judge has set West’s bond at $100,000.
So far, no court date has been set in the case.
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