News Summary
LAPD officers arrested Richard Vitagliano after a high-speed chase that began in downtown Los Angeles and ended in Santa Monica. The suspect is wanted for assault with a deadly weapon, although details about the assault remain undisclosed. The pursuit, which involved driving violations and speeds exceeding 80 mph, culminated at a busy intersection near the Santa Monica Pier. Officials have confirmed Vitagliano’s history of violent crime and extra scrutiny into the motives behind his alleged assault is expected.
Los Angeles – LAPD officers have apprehended an assault suspect after a high-speed chase that ended in Santa Monica on the evening of October 5, 2025. The suspect, identified as Richard Vitagliano, is wanted for assault with a deadly weapon, although specifics about the alleged assault have not been disclosed by the police.
The pursuit began in downtown Los Angeles but the exact starting location remains unclear. During the chase, the suspect was seen driving a white sedan, inconsistently fluctuating speeds and running multiple stop lights. In an attempt to evade arrest, he also drove on the wrong side of the road.
At approximately 5:50 p.m., the suspect entered the 110 Freeway and soon transitioned onto the 105 Freeway. The pursuit escalated as the suspect eventually drove into a tunnel leading to the passenger drop-off area of Los Angeles International Airport (LAX). The situation remained active throughout the evening, with updates anticipated as the events unfolded.
Vitagliano’s chase continued until he finally stopped the vehicle around 1 p.m. at the intersection of Ocean Avenue and Colorado Avenue, close to the Santa Monica Pier. Upon exiting, it was noted that he had a leashed dog with him, which was subsequently taken into custody by LAPD officers.
While the LAPD has not provided immediate information concerning the circumstances surrounding Vitagliano’s alleged assault or the specific weapon involved, it has been confirmed that he was arrested earlier for a violent attack on a 70-year-old man in North Hollywood on August 4, 2025. The victim of that incident, identified as Harpal Singh, was reportedly assaulted with a golf club while going for a walk.
On the day of the initial assault, the LAPD had received an alert to be on the lookout for Vitagliano based on surveillance images. He was arrested later that same evening on Lankershim Boulevard. He additionally has an extensive criminal record related to drugs, assaults, and weapons charges.
LAPD Chief McDonnell has stated that Singh’s attack was motivated by a property dispute and has clarified it was not classified as a hate crime. However, this determination has drawn scrutiny from organizations like the Sikh Coalition, who have called for a more thorough investigation into the motivations behind the assault.
Currently, Vitagliano remains in custody at Van Nuys jail after being booked for assault with a deadly weapon. This incident adds to a series of recent high-speed pursuits, including another earlier this year where a suspect was wanted for allegedly assaulting an LAPD officer in the Koreatown area. That pursuit also involved speeds exceeding 80 miles per hour on surface streets and ended with multiple arrests in Inglewood, including an incident where a suspect collided with a California Highway Patrol cruiser.
As the events surrounding the Los Angeles pursuit continue to develop, LAPD officials have conveyed that further updates will be provided as new information becomes available.
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Additional Resources
- CBS News: LAPD Assault Suspect Pursuit
- Google Search: LAPD assault suspect pursuit
- ABC7: Armed Suspect Leads LAPD High-Speed Chase
- Wikipedia: Crime in Los Angeles
- NBC Los Angeles: Arrest of Suspect in North Hollywood Attack
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Law Enforcement
- Fox LA: LAPD Chase Coverage
- Google News: LAPD high speed chase
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