NEWS RELEASE
City of Takoma Park Police Department
• 7500 Maple Avenue • Takoma Park, Md 20912
For more information contact:
Public Information Officer (PIO)
Catherine Plevy, 301/891.7142 or 240/338.2901
July 8, 2008 (2:38 p.m.)
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Chief Ronald A. Ricucci from the Takoma Park Police Department announces the arrest of Antonio Lopez-Lopez, 24, of the 8200 block of 14th Avenue, Langley Park, Maryland, for the pedestrian hit and run that occurred on the morning of July 4, 2008, in the 6900 block of New Hampshire Avenue, Takoma Park, Maryland.
On July 4, at approximately 1:29 a.m., Takoma Park Police responded to the 6900 block of New Hampshire Avenue, Takoma Park, Maryland, for reports of a female lying in the middle of the roadway. Officers arrived and located the victim who was unresponsive. The victim was transported to Suburban Hospital. Also located on the scene was the victim’s Dalmatian dog who eventually succumbed to his injuries and was transported by Montgomery County Animal Control Humane Society. The victim, a resident of Takoma Park, Maryland, remains in serious condition at Suburban Hospital.
Investigators from the Takoma Park Criminal Investigation Division received a tip from Prince George’s County Police that they had towed the black Honda bearing the tag number given back in June 2008. The vehicle had been towed from the 8200 block of 14th Avenue, Langley Park, Maryland. Detectives responded to the location and were unable to locate the vehicle. However, though investigation, detectives discovered that the driver of the vehicle did reside at the location. Detectives located the suspect and arrested him accordingly. The vehicle was located in Beltsville, Maryland, and has been impounded pending a thorough processing.
Lopez-Lopez is charged with (1) Failure to immediately return and remain at the scene of the accident involving bodily injury, (2) Failure of driver involved to render reasonable assistance to injured person, (3) Failure of vehicle driver in accident to report bodily injury to nearest police, and (4) Driver failure to notify appropriate police after motor vehicle strikes and injures domestic animal. Other charges may follow. He is being held on $20,000 bond at the Central Processing Unit in Montgomery County, Maryland.
Chief Ricucci would like to thank the media for their outstanding and continuing coverage of the vehicle tag, as well as Prince George’s County for their assistance. Chief Ricucci is proud of the Criminal Investigation Division, as well as patrol officers, for their outstanding follow through and determination to bring closure to this crime for this victim. This entire investigation was a joint effort between the police department, the media and the public which resulted in a successful arrest to a horrendous crime.
Chief Ricucci will be available today for an on-camera interview.
Posted by Plevy at July 8, 2008 02:36 PM