Friday, May 15, 1998
UCLA student held in custody for hit-and-run
CRIME: Bail set at $50,000 for Benjamin Smallwood; elderly
victim dies at medical center
By Lawrence Ferchaw
Daily Bruin Contributor
Wednesday night, an elderly man crossing the street at Beverly
Glen and Ashton was struck by a speeding car; he later died at the
UCLA Medical Center. The suspect is a UCLA student.
Benjamin Smallwood, 21, is in custody on suspicion of vehicular
manslaughter. Bail has been set at $50,000.
The incident took place at 8:50 p.m. Wednesday. Police said the
driver of the teal Honda made no attempts to stop or aid the
victim.
The victim, Mohammad Rezvani, 74, was transported to UCLA
Medical Center where he was pronounced dead due to massive blunt
force trauma.
Smallwood was arrested when a Bel Air patrol officer, Earvin
Bryant, saw a damaged vehicle in the garage at Smallwood’s
apartment building. The vehicle matched the description of a
witness, so Bryant reported it to the LAPD.
Police are crediting this security guard with cracking the
case.
When police arrested Smallwood, they report he made "spontaneous
statements."
Smallwood is a fourth-year English student with plans to enter
UCLA’s law school in the fall.
Other media have reported that alcohol was found in Smallwood’s
car when he was arrested. The Bruin has been unable to confirm
these reports.
Smallwood’s apartment manager described Smallwood as "a nice
young man" on one local television station.
If convicted, Smallwood could serve as many as 10 years in
prison, according to Officer Estelle Sison of the LAPD.