A woman was in custody Wednesday in the hit-and-run death of a man who was fatally injured while riding a bicycle in San Pedro.
Anisha Lockhart, 27, was arrested on Thursday in the death of Oscar Montoya, 51, who was hit by a vehicle about 12:40 a.m. on March 4 while riding north on Pacific Avenue, south of Channel Street, according to the Los Angeles Police Department. Montoya died at the scene.
“A vehicle driving at a high rate of speed struck him from behind causing fatal injuries to Oscar,” police said in a statement. “The vehicle fled the scene.”
Police initiated an investigation and sought the public’s help to find the motorist.
“On March 7 … citizens provided tips that led detectives to the suspect’s vehicle, a 2009 Scion XB, which was taken into custody,” police said. “On March 9 … South Traffic Division Detectives utilizing department resources and other tips from citizens apprehended the driver, Anisha Lockhart.”
Lockhart was booked on a felony-level crime, and she was being held on $100,000 bail, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. Her next court appearance was scheduled for April 7 in downtown Los Angeles.
Detectives and the victim’s family held a Wednesday morning news conference at the LAPD South Traffic Division.
“I want to thank you to my community for giving any tips to the South Traffic Division … anonymously, not anonymously, we still want to say thank you,” Montoya’s son, Joshua, told reporters. “On behalf of the Montoya family, we are very grateful that we brought justice for my father.”
Anyone with information on the case was urged to call police at 323-421-2500 or 323-421-2577. Tipsters may also use the website lacrimestoppers.org.