Husband Held in Man’s Beating Death

The young man found dead on a Pacoima sidewalk Thursday morning was the apparent victim of a jealous husband, Los Angeles Police Department officials said Friday.

Police say Alejandro Valverde of San Fernando will be charged with murder in the beating death of the man, who coroner’s officials say was a 22-year-old resident of Arleta. They declined to release his name pending notification of his family.

LAPD Lt. Steven Allen said that Valverde may have committed the crime because the victim, who had once dated Valverde’s wife, had been trying to contact her for possible renewal of their relationship.

“It does appear to be a love triangle type of deal,” Allen said.

Residents found the body slumped on the sidewalk on Laurel Canyon Boulevard, just north of Pierce Street.

Valverde was arrested Thursday afternoon, and is being held in Van Nuys Jail without bail. He is expected to be arraigned early next week.

Police said they believe another person was involved in the death, which appears to have been caused by blows to the head.

Allen said both the suspect and victim were gang members, although the crime was apparently not related to gang activity.