Stolen vehicle, pursuit suspect evades deputies before ditching vehicle in Fashion District
Authorities are in pursuit of a stolen vehicle suspect in East Los Angeles.
Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department deputies began pursuit of the suspect a little before 4:45 p.m., though it was unclear what prompted them to engage in the first place.
According to deputies, the car was reported stolen out of Lakewood on Tuesday.
As the pursuit continued through the South Gate-East Los Angeles area, the suspect was only traveling at speeds up to 30 miles per hour.
With Sky9 over the pursuit, the driver of the vehicle could be seen leaning out of the window and holding out an object that appeared to be a booklet of some sort, though it wasn't immediately clear what the item was.
A passenger could be seen sitting in the front passenger seat as well as a dog in the rear of the vehicle.
Deputies attempted both a spike strip and a PIT maneuver to stop the car, both of which proved unsuccessful.
Afterwards, the suspect picked up speed - traveling nearly 80 miles per hour on surface streets, swerving around slower traffic and hurtling through opposite lanes - forcing deputies to call off the pursuit due to the danger it posed to the public.
At around 5:30 p.m., the suspect finally came to a stop in the Fashion District area of Downtown Los Angeles, where it appeared they collided with a light pole and fled on foot.
Suspects bail on foot after hitting light pole
With no pursuing authorities and only Sky9 overhead, the suspect stopped the vehicle somewhere in Downtown LA and fled on foot, after colliding with a light pole on Santee St. and E. 12th Street in the Fashion District area.
Suspect nearly hits pedestrians crossing street in DTLA
The suspect continued driving erratically, almost colliding with several pedestrians crossing the street, all of which were thankfully aware of the oncoming vehicle.
Driver heads onto train tracks
The driver drove up onto the train tracks as they continued to swerve around slower traffic, heading into oncoming traffic before turning onto a separate surface street in Downtown LA.
Suspect nearly gets hit while flying through intersection
The driver, still traveling along surface streets at speeds up to 70 miles per hour, passed through an intersection at high speeds where they were almost hit by an oncoming vehicle, narrowly avoiding a collision by inches.
Watch commander orders LASD helicopter to stand down
The sheriff's helicopter was ordered to stand down from surveilling the suspect, canceling the pursuit altogether.
LASD helicopter allowed to remain in surveillance mode
After canceling ground units and initially calling the entire pursuit off due to the dangerous driving, the LASD watch commander allowed their helicopter to remain in surveillance mode and follow the suspect, who continued to speed through crowded streets.
Deputies cancel pursuit as suspect begins to drive erratically
Following the spike strip and PIT maneuver attempt, the suspect suddenly began to drive more erratically, passing through oncoming lanes of traffic and traveling at speeds almost double what they were earlier in the pursuit.
As a result, LASD deputies canceled the pursuit due to the danger presented to both the public and pursuing authorities.
Deputies attempt unsuccessful PIT maneuver
As the suspect traveled down Pacific Boulevard, one LASD squad car attempted a PIT maneuver, which nearly caused the suspect to fishtail before regaining control of the vehicle.
Vehicle runs over spike strip
After turning off of Soto Street, the suspect headed down Randolph where they ran over a spike strip before continuing on away from deputies.
Two occupants, dog inside vehicle
At least one other person was inside of the vehicle, sitting in the front passenger's seat. Deputies also reported that there was a dog in the rear of the car.
Deputies: Car was stolen yesterday
According to LASD deputies, the car was reported stolen out of Lakewood yesterday.
Driver leaning out of window, talking to authorities
With Sky9 overhead, the suspect driving the reportedly stolen vehicle could be seen leaning out of the window and saying something to the sheriff's squad car directly behind him.
After coming to a stop at the intersection of S. Soto Street and Farmer John Drive, the suspect held what appeared to be a book or wad of paper out of the window, though it wasn't immediately clear what the object was.
Suspect traveling at slow speeds
According to deputies, the suspect, who has still failed to yield, has only been driving at speeds up to 30 miles per hour.