Slow-Speed Pursuit Ends In Montebello With Hugs, Kisses
MONTEBELLO (CBSLA) — A slow-speed pursuit in a stolen U-Haul pickup truck across several cities ended with hugging, kissing, and a shot from a Taser gun.
A man and a woman - who was the vehicle's driver - were taken into custody at the end of a standoff and chase that began at about 11 a.m. Wednesday after the driver failed to yield.
Police successfully used a spike strip on the truck, but it failed to stop the pursuit. The truck drove slowly on the rim of the truck's front passenger-side tire down side streets after the shredded tire fell off.
At one point in the pursuit, the truck was involved in a collision with another car in the city of Montebello before it fishtailed and continued to drive on the wrong side of the street. The damaged rim of the truck stopped rolling, and began to throw sparks.
The pursuit stopped on Whittier Boulevard, in front of the Chevrolet of Montebello dealership, where it turned into a standoff. At one point, the passenger threw several bags and other items onto the street through the window.
A sheriff's SWAT vehicle arrived on the scene, and officers put up crime scene tape to keep a growing crowd of people watching the activity from getting too close.
The driver eventually opened her door, raising her hands up to surrender, but her passenger kept her from getting out by hugging her around her neck and her waist. When they both got out, he continued to hug her and kiss her, as she kept her hands on her head.
Advancing police officers ended the embrace by shooting the man with a Taser.
Police advised drivers to avoid Whittier Boulevard, between 3rd and 6th Street during the police activity.