Suspect Leads Officers on Two-County, Three-Hour Chase

SOUTH GATE (CNS) - A suspect led law enforcement officers on a three- hour chase today through Los Angeles and Orange counties before he pulled into a shopping center and ran into a 99 Cents Only store, where he was taken into custody at gunpoint.

A woman in the passenger seat of the Honda Accord was left injured at the end of the chase, which began about 5:15 p.m. in the area of Firestone Boulevard and California Avenue in South Gate. She was later seen being helped into an ambulance.

Police were informed of a dispute between a man and a woman in the car and the driver took off when an officer spotted and approached the vehicle, South Gate Police Department Capt. Darren Arakawa told the Orange County Register.

During the chase the woman was seen struggling with the suspect, who was reported to be a parolee at large, and a few times opened the passenger- side door, but did not get out as the car kept moving.

The suspect drove on streets and freeways, running red lights and at times taking to the wrong side of the street, narrowly missing other vehicles and pedestrians.

He drove into Orange County before heading back to Los Angeles County.

At one point the man drove through a park and plowed through a fence.

South Gate police chased the car for a time before the California Highway Patrol took the lead.

It appeared an officer in a CHP cruiser was moving into position to attempt a PIT maneuver and at one point the patrol car made contact with the rear of the Honda, but the suspect drove on.

About three hours after the chase began, the suspect pulled into a parking space and ran into a 99 Cents Only store near the intersection of Nogales Street and Colima Road in Rowland Heights, prompting people to stream out of the business.

Officers ran into the store with rifles drawn and soon after the suspect was led out in handcuffs.

Photo: Getty Images


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