A Los Angeles police sergeant was arrested in Orange County over the weekend after authorities say he hit and killed a pedestrian while driving intoxicated and fled the scene. Tustin police identified the driver as Carlos Coronel, who was booked into jail Saturday night. Coronel was taken into custody after he reported for work at Newton Division, hours after the incident happened, according to multiple LAPD sources who requested anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the ongoing investigation.
Coronel did not respond to an email at his work account, and it was unclear whether he had retained an attorney. Tustin Police Sgt. Ryan Newton said officers there were called about a. When they arrived, the found a man suffering from injuries from being struck by a vehicle; he was pronounced dead at the scene. Newton said the investigation led police to suspect that Coronel had been drinking, and they arrested him later that day, without elaborating further. He said the department expects to release additional details Tuesday.
It's the second time in less than two months that an LAPD officer has been arrested in connection with an alleged drunk driving fatality, following a Christmas Eve incident in Ontario in which a bicyclist was killed. Prosecutors in San Bernardino County say charges are pending against rookie LAPD officer Aaron Kleibacker, 39, who is accused of driving under the influence during a fatal collision on Dec.
Ontario police said they arrested Kleibacker after his vehicle struck and killed year-old Fabio Cebreros of Chino. Police said Kleibacker initially fled the scene before returning and cooperating with their investigation.
He was booked into the West Valley Detention Center in Rancho Cucamonga on suspicion of vehicular manslaughter and released on Christmas Day, according to an online jail roster. The department has not responded to questions about Kleibacker's status. On Jan. According to the California Highway Patrol, the officer was booked on suspicion of felony DUI while causing injuries and his wife was airlifted to a hospital to be treated for her injuries.
