Chinese National Free On Bail After High-Speed Chase Into Malibu
MALIBU (CBSLA.com) — A chase suspect who told police he was a Chinese national was released on bail Friday after a pursuit from East Los Angeles to Malibu that reached speeds higher than 100 mph.
Yuan Zhou, 18, who is reportedly a student at UC Irvine, was arrested about 9:15 p.m. Thursday and booked on suspicion of felony evading a peace officer and reckless driving, California Highway Patrol officials said.
Zhou was released at 5:35 a.m. Friday after posting $75,000. He is scheduled to appear in court on March 21, according to the Sheriff's Department.
Authorities questioned and released his two passengers, a male and a female, CHP officials said.
"I believe they're all Chinese nationals," CHP Sgt. Elizabeth Van Valkenburgh said at the scene of the arrest.
Police began pursuing a white BMW 750I on the northbound Golden State (5) Freeway near South Indiana Street after trying to pull it over for reckless driving. The chase reached speeds of 115 mph on the westbound Santa Monica (10) Freeway and 90 to 95 mph as the car headed north on PCH.
When CHP officers performed a PIT maneuver on the vehicle, the driver finally stopped on Pacific Coast Highway in Malibu at the end of a 40-minute pursuit. Footage from Sky9 showed the driver threw the car's keys out the window and another officer pulled him out of the vehicle and onto the ground.
The female passenger told CHP officers she was told they were taking a drive to Laguna Beach, Van Valkenburgh said.
RELATED: CHP Arrests Reckless Driving Suspect In Northern Malibu After High-Speed Chase
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