Local News in Brief : Student to Stand Trial in Ramming Incident

A California Institute of the Arts student accused of ramming a motorcycle policeman and sideswiping three cars on the Golden State Freeway last month was ordered Wednesday to stand trial on charges of attempted murder and assault with a deadly weapon.

Oscar William Smith, 36, was arrested Sept. 12 after he “used his car as one would use a baseball bat” on the southbound Golden State Freeway near Valencia, Deputy Dist. Atty. Daniel M. Greller said at Smith’s preliminary hearing in San Fernando Municipal Court.

Witnesses testified at the hearing that a red Nissan belonging to Smith hit at least three cars before knocking Los Angeles Police Officer James K. Johnson off his motorcycle just south of the San Fernando Mission Boulevard exit.

Johnson, an eight-year LAPD veteran, was hospitalized with back and internal injuries for six days. He has not worked since, he testified. The other victims were not seriously injured, Greller said.

Smith, who at the time of his arrest was on probation for a misdemeanor vandalism offense committed in April, is being held in lieu of $50,000 bail in County Jail. He is scheduled for arraignment in San Fernando Superior Court on Nov. 4.

Deputy Public Defender Martin H. Wegman unsuccessfully sought to have bail lowered so Smith’s relatives could put him in a high-security psychiatric hospital.