LOS ANGELES -- Police detained a suspect Sunday in the attack on a San Francisco Giants fan after Opening Day at Dodger Stadium, a brutal beating that prompted an outpouring of support for the victim and outrage in the sports world and beyond.
The suspect, whose name was not immediately released, was among several people detained for questioning after police served search warrants, Los Angeles Police Det. Jose Carillo said. Police said he was one of two suspects that have been sought in the case.
It's unclear whether the others detained were possible witnesses or suspects in the March 31 beating that left Bryan Stow with brain damage, said police Sgt. Kunch, who declined to give his first name per department policy.
Several search warrants were served at an apartment building, Kunch said, but he couldn't say how many people were detained or whether they are male or female. Building manager Maritza Camacho told the Los Angeles Times, which first reported the development, that a SWAT team descended on the East Hollywood apartment using loudspeakers and with guns drawn.
Among the people marched out of the building was a man with a bald head and tattoos on his neck and arms, Camacho said, a description that appeared to match the vague sketches released by police of one of the two suspects. She added that he did not appear to resist being taken into custody.
Police planned a news conference for 7 p.m. ET at Dodger Stadium. Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, police chief Charlie Beck and Dodgers officials are expected to attend.
Stow, a 42-year-old paramedic and father of two, was beaten in a parking lot by two men in Dodgers gear after the season opener against the Giants. No arrests have been made.
Last week, doctors reported that Stow is able to open his eyes but remains in critical condition after being transferred to San Francisco General Hospital. Stow had been at Los Angeles County-University of Southern California Medical Center since the attack that forced doctors to put him into a medically induced coma to avoid having seizures.
Beck said recently that detectives are looking into about 500 leads in their search for the attackers. Rewards totaling more than $200,000 have been offered for information leading to the suspects' arrests.
A tip from a parole agent led police to the suspect, police sources said, according to the Los Angeles Times. But officials did not provide details on why the agent tipped them off or what information led them to obtain a search warrant for the apartment building.
Los Angeles police have made the investigation one of their top priorities since the attack, assigning 17 of their top detectives from all areas of the city to work the case. PJ Morris, the lead detective in the case, said last week that police had followed leads from San Francisco to San Diego.
Stow's sister said police called her family Sunday morning to inform them about the search warrants.
"I can't even tell you the emotions that we're going through right now," Bonnie Stow told KABC-TV, occasionally choking back tears. "To be excited is the least we can say."
An outpouring of support for Stow included fundraisers that ranged from bowling tournaments to pasta dinners to donated services such as haircuts and fitness classes. The events are listed on the family's blog.
Stow and two friends were leaving the game when he was attacked. Moments earlier, Stow texted a family member to say he feared for his safety in the rowdy crowd.
Following the attack, Beck beefed up security at Dodger Stadium to deal with fights that had been breaking out at games in recent years.
Baseball fans have complained that anyone who dares to wear a rival team's jersey on Dodger turf has too-often been subjected to profane verbal abuse and threats of violence.
ESPNLosAngeles.com's Ramona Shelburne and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
The suspect, whose name was not immediately released, was among several people detained for questioning after police served search warrants, Los Angeles Police Det. Jose Carillo said. Police said he was one of two suspects that have been sought in the case.
It's unclear whether the others detained were possible witnesses or suspects in the March 31 beating that left Bryan Stow with brain damage, said police Sgt. Kunch, who declined to give his first name per department policy.
Several search warrants were served at an apartment building, Kunch said, but he couldn't say how many people were detained or whether they are male or female. Building manager Maritza Camacho told the Los Angeles Times, which first reported the development, that a SWAT team descended on the East Hollywood apartment using loudspeakers and with guns drawn.
Among the people marched out of the building was a man with a bald head and tattoos on his neck and arms, Camacho said, a description that appeared to match the vague sketches released by police of one of the two suspects. She added that he did not appear to resist being taken into custody.
Police planned a news conference for 7 p.m. ET at Dodger Stadium. Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, police chief Charlie Beck and Dodgers officials are expected to attend.
Stow, a 42-year-old paramedic and father of two, was beaten in a parking lot by two men in Dodgers gear after the season opener against the Giants. No arrests have been made.
Last week, doctors reported that Stow is able to open his eyes but remains in critical condition after being transferred to San Francisco General Hospital. Stow had been at Los Angeles County-University of Southern California Medical Center since the attack that forced doctors to put him into a medically induced coma to avoid having seizures.
Beck said recently that detectives are looking into about 500 leads in their search for the attackers. Rewards totaling more than $200,000 have been offered for information leading to the suspects' arrests.
A tip from a parole agent led police to the suspect, police sources said, according to the Los Angeles Times. But officials did not provide details on why the agent tipped them off or what information led them to obtain a search warrant for the apartment building.
Los Angeles police have made the investigation one of their top priorities since the attack, assigning 17 of their top detectives from all areas of the city to work the case. PJ Morris, the lead detective in the case, said last week that police had followed leads from San Francisco to San Diego.
Stow's sister said police called her family Sunday morning to inform them about the search warrants.
"I can't even tell you the emotions that we're going through right now," Bonnie Stow told KABC-TV, occasionally choking back tears. "To be excited is the least we can say."
An outpouring of support for Stow included fundraisers that ranged from bowling tournaments to pasta dinners to donated services such as haircuts and fitness classes. The events are listed on the family's blog.
Stow and two friends were leaving the game when he was attacked. Moments earlier, Stow texted a family member to say he feared for his safety in the rowdy crowd.
Following the attack, Beck beefed up security at Dodger Stadium to deal with fights that had been breaking out at games in recent years.
Baseball fans have complained that anyone who dares to wear a rival team's jersey on Dodger turf has too-often been subjected to profane verbal abuse and threats of violence.
ESPNLosAngeles.com's Ramona Shelburne and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
