Attempted murder suspect involved in Beverly Hills standoff identified as rideshare driver
Osvaldo Del Rio is accused of attempted murder after allegedly hitting a deputy with his truck.
BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. (KABC) -- The attempted murder suspect who was taken into custody on Monday after an hours-long standoff in Beverly Hills was identified as a rideshare driver.
Osvaldo Del Rio allegedly hit a deputy with his truck while trying to flee a traffic stop early Sunday morning, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department. The deputy suffered minor injuries and wasn't hospitalized.
A license plate reader in Beverly Hills picked up the suspect's plates that afternoon, according to authorities.
After a brief chase, Del Rio crashed into a second vehicle near Burton Way and Robertson Boulevard, police said. That's when the hours-long standoff began.
Residents and visitors near the intersection described hearing flash bangs explode late Sunday night as law enforcement worked to take the suspect into custody.
"We were just shocked. We couldn't believe it. I couldn't believe what I was watching to be honest," said Lucy Attwood, who witnessed the barricade incident unfold.
Another witness, Hattie Lea, said the sounds and images were unsettling.
"It was horrible, because you could like hear the bang, and then a few seconds later, you'd actually see what it was because obviously, you'd hear it before you could see it online," Lea said.
"I think it was just the uncertainty of what was going on," Lea added. "How long it was going to go on for and just the unknown, really."
Investigators said Del Rio refused to get out of the truck during the standoff and held a woman hostage.
More than eight hours later, authorities said the woman was released. AIR7 video captured the moment she got out of the vehicle, which was shortly before 11 p.m. on Sunday.
Authorities said they did not have information about the suspect's relationship with the hostage.
The sheriff's department allegedly used rubber bullets and a K-9 to take Del Rio into custody. Attwood said witnessing the standoff felt surreal.
"It's a story to tell," said Attwood. "I don't know about a good story, but it's a story to tell, definitely. It's a big city though, so I guess things like this do happen."
Del Rio is being held on $1,000,000 bail on attempted murder charges.
