Huntington Beach Police Arrest Suspect in 6-Month-Old Slaying
Police said Wednesday they have arrested a man in the death of a young woman found beaten on a Huntington Beach sidewalk last fall.
“We are actively trying to contact as many people as possible who may be his associates and may have information regarding this and other crimes,” said Lt. Chuck Thomas, a spokesman for the Huntington Beach Police Department.
The department plans to reveal the suspect’s identity--and what led authorities to him--at a press conference this morning, Thomas said.
On Wednesday, Thomas said only that the suspect was arrested over the weekend in connection with an attempted sexual assault. “We need to contact people before releasing his name,” Thomas said. “We need to talk to them before their statements have been compromised.”
Bridgette Elizabeth Ballas, 29, was found unconscious on a sidewalk in the 900 block of Huntington Street about 6:30 a.m. Nov. 27.
Ballas, who had been with friends downtown earlier that morning, had apparently been attacked while walking home. She died two days later from what investigators said was injury by a blunt instrument.
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