Pico Rivera Man Accused In Police Pursuit Pleads Not Guilty
LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — A 22-year-old man was charged Wednesday of felony evading after a televised police pursuit earlier this week.
Gregory Patrick Flexen, of Pico Rivera, pleaded not guilty Wednesday to a felony count of evading an officer. He has previously been convicted of aggravated battery by gassing in 2012 and vandalism in 2011, according to the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office.
The chase began Monday about 7:30 p.m. in Elm Monte when officers tried to pull over the driver for having no front license plate, prosecutors said.
The driver was alone and talked on a cell phone throughout the pursuit, which never exceeded 30 mph. Prosecutors say Flexen ran red lights, drove on the wrong side of the road at times and traveled at unsafe speeds.
The vehicle struck a spike strip, but the driver continued until all four tires were blown out. The chase ended about 8:09 p.m., when the vehicle finally stopped and the driver was arrested by police.
Prosecutors say they will ask that Flexen's bail be set at $95,000. If convicted as charged, Flexen faces a maximum sentence of five years in prison.
