Bank Robbery Suspects Dump Cash During Downtown LA Pursuit
SOUTH LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — An hour-long pursuit with four bank robbery suspects led authorities across Los Angeles County before finally coming to a close in South LA.
The pursuit began in Santa Clarita after Los Angeles County Sheriff's deputies received a call of an armed robbery at a Bank of America in Canyon Country around 10:15 a.m., officials said.
A pursuit then ensued with the suspects riding in a black Volvo SUV. It continued along the eastbound 210 Freeway where at two suspects bailed from the vehicle and took off on foot in Sylmar.
The chase continued onto the southbound Pasadena (110) Freeway and into downtown, where the driver was speeding through midday traffic.
KNX 1070's Pete Demetriou reports suspects were seen dumping an unknown amount of cash along streets in Exposition Park.
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PHOTO GALLERY: Money Thrown Out During Police Pursuit
The pursuit ended around 11:20 a.m. after the black Volvo got into a traffic jam on Vernon, one block west of Vermont Avenue.
Deputies approached the vehicle and removed two adult males from the SUV at gunpoint. The suspects were arrested while a large crowd surrounded the scene.
KCAL9's Randy Paige reports emotions were running high among both police and residents on the scene.
A gun and a knife were recovered from the SUV, which had been reported stolen out of South Los Angeles, said Commander Bob Green of the Los Angeles Police Department.
Two people were injured in the pursuit, authorities said. A police officer's foot was run over by a vehicle and a bystander was injured by a cruiser.
Additional LAPD officers arrived on scene to set up skirmish lines and to disperse the crowd. Eastbound Vermont and the intersection of Kansas and Vernon were closed to traffic.
Police are asking anyone who may have recovered money thrown from the suspect's vehicle to turn it in as it is evidence in the investigation.
One of the suspects who jumped out of the car was arrested and in custody around 1 p.m.
Police are still searching for the second suspect, who is believed to be armed and dangerous.
The pursuit is just one of several that have occurred over the past few days in the Southland.
On Wednesday, a murder and robbery suspect was shot after leading police on an hour-long pursuit through downtown and surrounding areas.
Officials called off a search for a man who led them on a high-speed car chase Monday night after he failed to yield for a traffic stop.
