Arrest Made in Assault on Radio Reporter

Los Angeles: Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) detectives arrested Ramon Flores, 31, in Boyle Heights during a traffic stop this morning around 8:15 AM. Flores has been identified as the man who assaulted and robbed a local radio reporter on June 1, 2006, near a charter school in El Sereno.

"Detectives got a break this week when they re-canvassed the area where the assault occurred," said LAPD spokesman Lieutenant Paul Vernon. "They noticed a car fitting the description of the one used in the assault and traced it to the owner."

The arrest ended a three-month investigation into the assault and robbery of KABC radio reporter Sandy Wells. Detectives searched Flores’ home in the 1000 block of Fresno Street in connection with the search and arrest warrants. They were looking for evidence that might further connect Flores to the incident. Detectives impounded Flores’ silver Dodge Magnum at the scene of his arrest near Boyle and Eighth Streets. The car matched the description Wells provided to police at the time of the assault.

Around 7:30 AM on June 1, 2006, Wells had just finished trying to interview parents, students, and administrators at the Academia Semillas del Pueblo Charter School. Wells was across the street from the school, in the 4700 block of Huntington Drive, when he noticed a silver sedan speeding toward him. The car jumped the curbed onto the sidewalk. Wells jumped out of the way to keep from being hit. An Hispanic man got out of the car and confronted Wells, trying to take his recording equipment.

Wells was able to fend off the assailant, who made off with the audio tape from Wells’ recorder.

"Wells got a pretty good look at the man," Vernon said. "Once the detectives had a possible suspect, they presented a picture array to Wells, who picked out Flores from among five similar-looking men."

Flores was booked on a charge of Assault With a Deadly Weapon, likely to cause great bodily harm. He will also face an additional charge of Robbery. His bail was set at $80,000.