California

Arrest Made in Beating Death of Canadian Actor Found Inside Hollywood Hills Home

A man was arrested Saturday in connection with the fatal beating of a Canadian actor who was found inside a Hollywood Hills home.

The man, whose name was not released, was arrested Saturday out of state by Los Angeles Police Department West Bureau Homicide detectves, said Lt. John Radtke of the Los Angeles Police Department. He was described as a drifter or a homeless person, and detectives believe he was only in Los Angeles for a few days. 

He has a criminal history outside of Los Angeles County, but does not have a local criminal history, Radtke said. He is waiting to be extradited. 

The death was reported at 2:17 a.m. Sept. 23 in the 6700 block of Milner Road, according to the Los Angeles Police Department. The man, identified as 41-year-old Candian actor Richard Hong, was found dead at the scene and appeared to have been beaten, according to police. 

The burglary call came in at about 2 a.m.

"On their arrival, they found a male deceased victim of what appeared to be a homicide," said Lt. Chris Ramirez.

The suspect was in the Hollywood Hills doing "door knocks" and "door checking" looking for doors left open, Radtke said. It is possible that Hong may have left the door to the home open or unlocked. 

Some items taken from the home where Hong was staying have been recovered, Radtke said.

Home security video played a large role in the investigation, Radtke said. There was no indication that the man had an accomplice.

Witnesses saw a man run from the location.

The Whitley Terrace Association homeowner's group told NBC4 the man police are looking for was seen casing the area for weeks before the killing.

The association turned over surveillance video to the LAPD showing the suspect in the area.

The case was presented to the district attorney's office to be filed on charges of felony murder in the course of burglary, according to Radtke.

George Stroumboulopoulos, Canadian TV talk show host, owned the home Hong was staying in while he was away. He said Hong was a "dear friend" of his.

Stroumboulopoulos had a show on Canadian broadcaster CBC from 2005 to 2014.

Toni Guinyard contributed to this report.

Copyright CNS - City News Service
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