Standoff Inside Woodland Hills Bank Ends Peacefully After Wild Car Chase
WOODLAND HILLS (CBSLA) — A Tuesday morning standoff involving a suspect who led police on a pursuit before crashing his car into a Woodland Hills bank ended peacefully.
Police say crisis negotiators and the man's daughter talked him into surrendering just before 4 a.m. after the wild chase that started in Reseda ended with a crash into a Chase bank in Woodland Hills, where he threatened to pour gasoline. The man was taken to a hospital for treatment of injuries he sustained when he crashed into the bank.
Officers began chasing after the man after they say saw him doing donuts and driving recklessly in a black BMW SUV. At one point, a CHP vehicle attempted to stop the suspect with a PIT maneuver, but the BMW sped off.
"During the pursuit, several times, he had pointed a handgun out of the vehicle as well. He never fired at the officers, but they clearly saw that he was armed," Los Angeles police Detective Meghan Aguilar said. "Rather than approach that vehicle, the decision was made to call our special weapons and tactics, our SWAT team, and they came out here and negotiated with this individual."
During the standoff, which ensued when the BMW crashed into the bank and ended up inside, the suspect told police he had gasoline and would pour it in the bank. Police say there's no indication that threat was true, but a gasoline container that was thrown out of the car has been recovered.
The man's family also said the gun he was waving around is a replica, but police say it appears to be a legitimate weapon.
The suspect reportedly had been having family and financial problems, and after celebrating his birthday yesterday, he said he planned to go out with a big bang today.