From the LAPD:
“LAPD officers pull over a man for driving at a high rate of speed through a Venice neighborhood. The officers soon learned that he was the same suspect wanted for beating a man that was captured on video.
The video is disturbing. We do not recommend watching it.
On December 13, 2013, officers from Pacific Division responded to a radio call of an “Assault with a Deadly Weapon” in the 1300 block of Ocean Front Walk. The suspect left the scene prior to the officers’ arrival and the victim was transported to a nearby hospital for medical treatment.
During the investigation, a video of the incident was provided to Pacific Division officers and detectives. The video footage showed the suspect using a folding chair to hit the victim several times in the face and upper body.
LAPD’s media partners aired the video footage in an attempt for a member of the public to identify the suspect. As the investigation unfolded, officers from Pacific Division’s Gang Enforcement Detail identified Apolinar Celestino Lopez, a 30-year-old male Hispanic, as the suspect wanted for the brutal beating. Gang detectives from Pacific Division then obtained a felony warrant for Lopez.
On January 5, 2014, Pacific Division officers conducted a traffic stop and learned that the driver, Apolinar Celestino Lopez had a felony warrant for Assault with a Deadly Weapon. Suspect Lopez was also operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol or narcotics. He was arrested and booked at Pacific Division.”
If you have any information regarding this incident, please contact LAPD Pacific Division detectives at (310) 482-6313. During non-business hours or on weekends, calls should be directed to 1-877-LAPD-24-7 (1-877-527-3247).
Anyone wishing to remain anonymous should call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (800-222-8477). Tipsters may also contact Crime Stoppers by texting to phone number 274637 (C-R-I-M-E-S on most keypads) with a cell phone. All text messages should begin with the letters “LAPD.” Tipsters may also go to www.lapdonline.org, and click on “Anonymous Web Tips.”
