Los Angeles Times

Man is pushed into truck’s path

Downtown L.A. tailor remains hospitaliz­ed in last week’s attack. Suspect, 41, arrested.

- By Louis Sahagun louis.sahagun@latimes.com Times staff writer Ben Poston contribute­d to this report.

The unprovoked attack caught on a surveillan­ce video was shocking: A man was walking along a downtown Los Angeles street when a stranger shoved him into the path of a truck.

Moments later, the attacker casually picked up a bracelet he’d knocked out of the victim’s hand, then left.

On Sunday, Albert Davtyan, 58, was being treated in a hospital for severe injuries, including broken ribs, collapsed lungs and laceration­s, according to friends and relatives who created an online crowdfundi­ng platform to help with his medical and financial hardships.

“He’s gone through several surgeries over the past few days,” said Malik Khan, general manager of Roger Stuart Clothes, which has referred clients to Davtyan’s nearby Albert’s Tailoring business for more than 15 years. “This was a brutal, tragic attack on a humble, very fine man who is like family to us.”

Davtyan was one of several people authoritie­s said were randomly attacked last week by Garret Boldt, 41, a homeless man in the area.

Boldt was charged Friday with one felony count of premeditat­ed attempted murder, three felony counts of assault by means of force likely to cause great bodily injury and one misdemeano­r count of petty theft, according to the criminal complaint filed in Los Angeles County Superior Court. The charges include an allegation that Boldt personally inflicted great bodily injury.

Prosecutor­s are recommendi­ng that bail be set at $1.09 million. The case remains under investigat­ion.

Boldt is accused of tackling a woman to the ground on the morning of Dec. 4 at West 7th and Hill streets, the Los Angeles County district attorney’s office said.

The following morning, Boldt was sitting on a bench at West 6th Street and South Broadway when he stood and pushed Davtyan into the street, where he was hit by the oncoming truck, prosecutor­s said.

As Davtyan lay injured in the street, Boldt walked back to pick up the bracelet knocked out of the victim’s hands, according to prosecutor­s.

Boldt punched a woman later that afternoon at a bus stop at West 1st and South Hill streets, prosecutor­s said. Police arrested him a short time later.

“The attacks appear to be random and unprovoked,” prosecutor­s said in a statement. “Boldt faces a possible maximum sentence of life in prison.”

In the meantime, relatives are trying to raise money for Davtyan, a father of two, who remains in critical condition.

“He was minding his own business when he was pushed onto the street and under a truck,” a statement attached to the fund web page says. “He is in a critical condition in the ICU with multiple broken bones, collapsed lungs and open wounds. He has needed multiple blood transfusio­ns and went through an intensive surgery.”

In an interview Sunday, Davtyan’s son Zorick added, “My father is in lots of pain, and we’re by his side around the clock.”

 ?? CBS Los Angeles ?? AUTHORITIE­S SAY Garret Boldt, left, pushed Albert Davtyan into the path of a truck Dec. 5 in downtown Los Angeles. Boldt is also suspected of attacking others.
CBS Los Angeles AUTHORITIE­S SAY Garret Boldt, left, pushed Albert Davtyan into the path of a truck Dec. 5 in downtown Los Angeles. Boldt is also suspected of attacking others.

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