Man Accused Of Crashing Into LASD Recruits Released From Custody

WHITTIER, CA — The man who authorities say is accused of driving the wrong-way vehicle that hit some 25 Los Angeles County Sheriff's recruits in Whitter early Wednesday has been released, the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Office said late Thursday.

"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 [22-year-old Nicholas Joseph Gutierrez] from the Sheriff’s Department custody today at approximately 9:55 PM," the office said in a news release.

Los Angeles County Sheriff Alex Villanueva said in an interview with NewsNation Thursday that Gutierrez was provisionally released before investigators could present a stronger case for prosecution, according to an ABC-7 report.

On Thursday, the sheriff's office said Gutierrez was being held on an attempted murder charge. Jail records said Gutierrez had been released Thursday in accordance with a section of the California penal code that allows for an arrested person to be released due to insufficient grounds to file a complaint against the person.

Wednesday's crash, which occurred just before 6:30 a.m. in suburban Whittier, left several in critical condition with injuries that included loss of limbs, head trauma and broken bones, officials said.

The 25 recruits as well as the driver were injured in the crash, according to the sheriff's department.

At least five recruits had critical injuries, four recruits had moderate injuries and 14 others had minor injuries, said Los Angeles County Fire Department spokesperson Capt. Sheila Kelliher.

California Highway Patrol Assistant Chief Charlie Sampson said about 75 recruits were running in formation northbound in the street when the southbound vehicle veered into the opposing lane and struck the victims.

Villanueva confirmed that the driver was not drunk at the time, based on a Breathalyzer test, which showed him with no alcohol in his system.

The training class included recruits from various law enforcement agencies, and the group of injured trainees includes two each from the Bell and Glendale police departments and one from the Pasadena Police Department. The rest were all sheriff's department trainees, Villanueva said.

City News Service and The Associated Press contributed to this report.