Police: Car Chase Suspect May Have Intentionally Caused Rollover Crash In Chatsworth
CHATSWORTH (CBSLA) — A domestic violence suspect leading a police pursuit through Chatsworth Monday may have intentionally crashed into an innocent driver, according to police.
The chase started as police responded to a burglary-in-progress call near Mason and Devonshire at about 6 a.m. When officers arrived, the suspect took off, and they learned the incident was actually domestic in nature, according to police.
About a mile away, the suspect's white four-door sedan crashed into a black vehicle, which flipped over. The driver in that car was also taken to a hospital as a precaution.
"He rolled over, got hit pretty hard, took out a tree," Valley traffic division Officer Brett Cook said. "The fact that he was able to walk way is pretty amazing."
The chase ended less than 10 minutes later at Tulsa Street and Tulsa Lane, a dead-end street in a residential neighborhood, where Harry Nensey was awoken by a police bullhorn telling the suspect – who investigators say was uncooperative – to get out of the car.
Nensey said he made sure to stay inside.
"The thing is this could easily have turned into a police incident where bullets would be fired," he said. "And that's why we basically stayed indoors and basically took shelter."
The suspect was eventually taken into custody and transported in an ambulance in unknown condition. Police say they are reviewing dash cam video because the suspect may have intentionally crashed into the innocent driver.
"In pursuit, a lot of it is just incidental. But in this case, it looks like it could have he was actually trying to hit that car," Cook said.