Man won't be charged in dragging

DOWNEY - Detectives have made an arrest in Monday's dragging death on Lakewood Boulevard, but the suspect won't be charged after the District Attorney cited insufficient evidence.The suspect, Alex Copeland, 23, of Norwalk, was charged with murder, but DA officials said it was difficult to prove that he was not acting in self-defense. According to Sgt. Alex Irizibal with the Downey Police Department, officers were dispatched Monday at approximately 12:30 a.m. to a fight in progress at the Shuttle Inn, located on the 9000 block of Imperial Highway. Four or five people were fighting with a single person, Irizibal said. Police found the victim, identified as Allan William Larios, 35, of Buena Park, lying face down in the northbound traffic lanes of Lakewood Boulevard near Rose Avenue suffering from multiple wounds. He was pronounced dead at the scene. Based on evidence and witness statements, police believe Larios was run over and dragged for several hundred yards beneath Copeland's vehicle. Copeland turned himself in later that night. Prosecution documents state that Larios opened Copeland's door and tried to pull him out of the vehicle before Copeland drove away.

********** Published: November 6, 2009 - Volume 8 - Issue 29