Iraq war vet on psychiatric hold
An Iraq war veteran who waved a gun on a Santa Barbara highway and was repeatedly found outside actor Tom Cruise’s home is on psychiatric hold at a veterans hospital.
A judge Monday issued a warrant for Edward Van Tassel to be returned to jail when he is released from the hospital in Los Angeles. It was not clear when that would be.
The judge also reset Van Tassel’s bail at $250,000, up from $50,000.
Van Tassel is charged with several weapons violations stemming from a Nov. 3 episode on the 101 Freeway.
After his arrest, he went to a veterans facility that the judge believed would keep him locked up for evaluation. Instead, Van Tassel left the facility three times this month to deliver a letter to Cruise asking him to help Iraq war veterans.
Start your day right
Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
