LOS ANGELES, Calif.–Two men were arrested in connection with the opening-day beating of a San Francisco Giants fan outside Dodger Stadium, and the man originally arrested in connection with the attack has been exonerated, the Los Angeles Times reported tonight on its website.
The Los Angeles Police Department would not immediately confirm the report, saying only that the March 31 beating of Giants fan Bryan Stow remained under investigation.
Jose Romero, an attorney for Giovanni Ramirez, a parolee who was arrested May 22 in connection with the attack, said tonight he had only recently begun hearing reports of the arrests but did not have any details.
Ramirez, 31, was never charged with attacking Stow, but in late June, he was sent to prison for 10 months for violating his parole–since a gun was found in the apartment where he was staying. Romero and other attorneys for Ramirez have insisted their client was not involved in the attack, saying he was not even at Dodger Stadium that day. They contend he spent that day with his young daughter.
Earlier this week, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors added $15,000 the reward for information leading to whoever beat Stow. That brought the total reward offer to at least $225,000.
Stow, a 42-year-old paramedic and father of two, suffered brain injuries and is hospitalized at San Francisco General Hospital. He was punched and fell, hitting his head on the pavement.
Ramirez’s girlfriend, Denise Piccione, was arrested in Las Vegas July 9 and booked on drug and weapons violations. She has pleaded not guilty and a preliminary hearing in her case has been set for July 27.
Los Angeles police Chief Charlie Beck said earlier that Piccione was considered a witness in the Stow case, though she may be an alibi witness rather than a direct witness to the beating.
