Murder Suspect Chased, Captured

An off-duty police sergeant early Saturday chased and arrested a man who police said fatally stabbed another man during a fight in a parking lot.

Ronald Spitter, 31, whom police identified as a transient who frequently panhandled in the area, was booked on suspicion of murder. The name of the 18-year-old victim was not released, pending notification of his relatives.

Employees at Canter’s Fairfax Restaurant Delicatessen & Bakery said that Spitter had been hanging around for weeks, begging customers for money.

Sgt. Roger Dowis was leaving the restaurant at 419 N. Fairfax Ave. at 4:30 a.m. after breakfast when the victim confronted Spitter, police said. Dowis was calling for help on his squad car’s radio when Spitter allegedly stabbed the youth, police said.