Crime & Safety

UPDATED Police Arrest Man in Connection with Pacific Palisades Hit and Run

The suspect in the death of David Pregerson, a federal judge's son, UCLA graduate and aspiring filmmaker, is Michael Vuong of Palms.

Originally posted at 8:28 a.m. May 2, 2014. Edited with new details.

Authorities today identified a man who was arrested in the hit-and-run death in Pacific Palisades of a federal judge's son.

Michael Vuong, 66, of the Palms area of Los Angeles, was arrested Thursday afternoon and booked on suspicion of vehicular manslaughter in the Dec. 27 crash that killed David Pregerson, the Los Angeles Police Department reported.

Find out what's happening in Pacific Palisadeswith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Vuong was held on $100,000 bail, the sheriff's department reported. He was expected to be arraigned Monday, according to the LAPD.

Pregerson, a 23-year-old budding filmmaker and recent graduate of UCLA, was walking on Chautauqua Boulevard, south of Sunset Boulevard, when he was fatally struck about 3 a.m. on Dec. 27. He was declared dead at a hospital four days later.

Find out what's happening in Pacific Palisadeswith free, real-time updates from Patch.

He was a son of U.S. District Judge Dean Pregerson and a grandson of U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals Judge Harry Pregerson.

Pregerson's family and the Los Angeles City Council had each offered rewards of $50,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the driver.

"I am very thankful that the Palisades community stepped up to help the LAPD and I hope that this crucial progress in the case provides a small measure of comfort for the Pregerson family," said City Councilman Mike Bonin. "The suspect in custody will have his day in court. Until then, I am incredibly appreciative that our police department, local media and neighbors all relentlessly pursued justice for David and the family and community that still grieves his loss."

--City News Service


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

To request removal of your name from an arrest report, submit these required items to arrestreports@patch.com.