Father Of Wanted LAPD Officer Charged With Lying To FBI
LOS ANGELES (CBSLA/com/AP) — The father of a former LAPD officer was charged Thursday with lying to FBI agents to help his son escape after the officer was charged with killing a man during an off-duty fight, authorities said.
Victor Solis, 53, was arrested at his Lancaster home and charged in a federal court in El Paso, Texas, with making false statements to FBI agents.
Reacting to his arrest, April Lafleur, a friend of Solis, said: "It was upsetting to me because he was my friend and he's a great guy."
"I don't know why he come after he knows, you know, the FBI or the police here checking up on him," said Maldin Maida, another neighbor.
At a hearing in Los Angeles, Solis agreed to be transferred to Texas to face the charge and was ordered held without bail, City News Service reported. He could face up to five years in federal prison if convicted.
A message left for his public defender, Pedro Castillo, wasn't immediately returned.
A $25,000 reward has been offered for information leading to the arrest of Henry Solis, who authorities suspect is hiding in Mexico.
The 27-year-old probationary LAPD officer is accused in the shooting death of Salome Rodriguez, 23, outside a nightclub in downtown Pomona on March 13.
Investigators said the two had gotten into a dispute in the club. Funeral services for the Ontario man were held Thursday at a church in East Los Angeles.
On the day of the killing, Henry Solis called his father's home, and a short time later the elder Solis left in a hurry, according to an affidavit from an FBI agent.
In an FBI interview, Victor Solis said his son claimed to have five days of vacation and wanted to go to El Paso.
Victor Solis allegedly said he drove his son to El Paso, where he dropped him at a bus station early March 14 and didn't see him again.
Victor Solis also claimed he later crossed the border into Mexico alone but surveillance video captured him crossing with his son, according to the affidavit.
Police said Henry Solis, described as Hispanic, 5-foot-9 and 185 pounds, may be driving a brown or tan 1992 Ford pickup, license number 4J79703.
Anyone with information as to his whereabouts was asked to call the Pomona police detective bureau at (909) 620-2085, or Crime Stoppers at (800) 222-8477.
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