Photo: L.A. County Sheriff's Department
MONTEREY PARK (CNS) - The city of Redondo Beach has authorized a $10,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of a biker who police say fired shots at two officers during a traffic stop.
The Redondo Beach police officers, part of a South Bay DUI task force, pulled over 35-year-old Lester Yohan Castro on Feb. 21 in the 12800 block of Prairie Avenue in Hawthorne, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, which held a news conference in Monterey Park on Tuesday to announce the reward.
"Shortly after the officers made contact with Castro, Castro fled the scene on foot," sheriff's Lt. Daniel Vizcarra said.
A subsequent foot pursuit led the two officers to the 12900 block of Roosevelt Avenue where the Hawthorne resident allegedly fired several rounds at the officers. One of the officers returned fire, he said.
"After the shooting, Castro fled into the rear yards of nearby yards," Vizcarra said. "Officers established a containment of the area, however Castro was not located."
Castro, the lieutenant said, is known to frequent Hawthorne and the Lennox area of unincorporated Los Angeles County. He is considered armed and dangerous.
"Although the firearm used in this crime has been recovered, the suspect has already proven, through his action, that he is willing to take extreme measures," Redondo Beach Police Chief Joe Hoffman said at Tuesday morning's news conference.
Anyone with information regarding the shooting or Castro's whereabouts was urged to call the Redondo Beach Police Department at 310-379-2477 or the sheriff's Homicide Bureau at 323-890-5500. Tipsters who prefer to remain anonymous can call Crime Stoppers at 800-222-8477 or visit lacrimestoppers.org.