CHP Sergeant Injured, Biker Arrested
A Topanga Canyon man was arrested Friday after he allegedly drove his motorcycle into a California Highway Patrol sergeant standing alongside Malibu Canyon Road, authorities said.
Keith Vitelli, 28, was being held at the Malibu sheriff’s station jail on suspicion of felony drunk driving and of assault with a deadly weapon against a police officer. His bail was set at $10,000.
Sgt. George Rice had just completed a traffic stop involving another motorist along Malibu Canyon Road near Las Virgenes Road when he was struck about 3:45 p.m., a CHP spokesman said. Rice, 45, underwent surgery for a broken left leg at Northridge Hospital Medical Center and was listed in stable condition.
Vitelli was arrested about 4:45 p.m. when officers said they saw him trying to hide his motorcycle under branches alongside Malibu Canyon Road.
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