The Gateway Pundit reported on the more than two dozen LA County sheriff recruits that were injured after being struck by a wrong-way vehicle in Los Angeles in what authorities believe was an intentional act.
According to the sheriff’s office, at least 25 recruits were injured, five critically, and some of the injured lost limbs.
A 22-year old man was arrested following the horrific incident, but has subsequently been released pending further evidence.
Nicholas Joseph Gutierrez, who was charged with attempted murder of a peace officer, was released at 9:49 p.m. Thursday, according to jail records that cited an insufficient complaint, CNN reported.
“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 release.
LA County Sheriff’s Deputy Deanna Mares told CNN that Gutierrez was sprung because investigators need more time to collect evidence for the district attorney’s office.
“It’s not like they arrested the wrong suspect,” Mares told CNN. “They just want to make sure the investigation is going to be complete.”
The suspect’s initial arrest has been deemed a detention, according to the LA Times.
Jail records reportedly cited a California penal code that authorizes police to release people from custody without first being arraigned if there are insufficient grounds to issue a criminal complaint.
The case was expected to be presented to the DA’s office on Friday, but LA County Sheriff Alex Villanueva told NewsNation that the suspect would be “provisionally” released as investigators worked to build a stronger case.
“Right now, we want to tie up all the loose ends on the case and then present it to the DA,” he told the cable channel, adding that investigators had “developed probable cause to believe it was intentional.”