A Northern California man who was allegedly being chased by police when he struck and killed a pedestrian and his dog in Long Beach was ordered today to stand trial on murder and other charges.
Superior Court Judge Richard M. Goul found sufficient evidence to allow the case against Jyvante West, 28, of Richmond, to proceed to trial.
West is charged with one count each of murder, animal cruelty, fleeing a pursuing peace officer’s vehicle causing death, second-degree burglary and sale/transport of marijuana.
The murder count stems from the May 26, 2020, death of Jose Hernandez, 32, of Long Beach.
Police said Hernandez was legally crossing Sixth Street at Magnolia Avenue with his dog when he was struck by a 2016 Mercedes-Benz GLE that was allegedly driven through a red light at a high rate of speed by West.
Hernandez and his dog were both pronounced dead at the scene.
The mid-size luxury SUV subsequently collided with a fence in the area of Sixth Street and Pine Avenue, where West was taken into custody, police said.
Long Beach Police Department Officer David Cabrera testified that West told him after the crash that he had used marijuana about 20 minutes before the chase.
The pursuit began after officers went to a business in the 2100 block of Gaylord Street following a call that people were cutting down marijuana plants inside the licensed cannabis-related business, and spotted the Mercedes-Benz SUV fleeing from the scene, police said.
LBPD Officer Eric Sayabounthavong–the first officer to begin chasing the vehicle–testified Thursday that he didn’t think the Mercedes-Benz was traveling at a reasonable speed.
“It was definitely driving past the speed limit,” Sayabounthavong testified.
The chase lasted about five minutes on streets, state Route 103 and the 710 Freeway, according to police.
West has remained jailed since his arrest late that night. He is due back in a Long Beach courtroom Nov. 22 for arraignment.
A half-dozen other Northern California residents were arrested on suspicion of burglary and subsequently released on bond. The status of any charges against them was unclear.
Man charged with murder in police chase that ended in fatal crash