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Driver Suspected In Hit-And-Run Over Homeless Woman's Tent Arrested

LOS ANGELES (CBS) — A man police say intentionally drove his car over a tent in which a homeless woman was sleeping was arrested Wednesday.

Arturo Betanzo, 43, was arrested about 7 a.m. on suspicion of felony hit-and-run. Betanzo is being held on $50,000 bail.

The attack happened about 2:30 a.m. Sunday on a sidewalk near Fourth Street and Towne Avenue near downtown Los Angeles, LAPD Sgt. Gregory Hoyt said.

"There was an altercation between the owner of the car and the people in the tent," Hoyt said. "The (car) owner flees, turns around and runs the car onto the sidewalk, striking the woman, who was sleeping in the tent."

The woman, whose name was not released, was hospitalized with serious injuries.

Anyone with information about the crash can call the LAPD Central Traffic Division at (213) 972-1840 or (877) LAPD-24-7.

(©2012 CBS Local Media, a division of CBS Radio Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Wire services contributed to this report.)

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