Man Accused Of Leading CHP On High-Speed Pursuit Speaks Exclusively To KCAL9
LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — A man suspected of leading officers on a high-speed pursuit spoke exclusively to KCAL9's Rachel Kim after being taken into custody.
The suspect, who identified himself to Kim as Alex S., said he was trying to go home at the time.
He said he thought the California Highway Patrol was initially following him because he was "speeding a little bit."
But, the man said: "They like to harass motorcyclists so … "
The chase Monday night ensued in East Los Angeles, and according to Sky9's Stu Mundel, the motorcyclist at one point drove into an East Los Angeles College parking structure.
As Kim reports, the suspect was reported to have a passenger with him, but when he emerged from the parking structure, he was the only one on the bike.
"Apparently, he drove inside this parking garage," Mundel said while flying overhead.
Alex told Kim the passenger was his girlfriend.
"When they were chasing me, she unexpectedly jumped off because she was scared. She's scared of the police so I'm trying to find out what's going on with her. Hopefully, she's OK," he said.
Throughout the course of the pursuit, Mundel said the man traveled on the 10, 710 and 60 freeways. At one point, speeds reached up to 100 mph, Mundel said.
It is unknown what he was initially wanted for, Mundel said.
The man was taken into custody about 8:40 p.m. after ditching his bike on the westbound 60 Freeway and fleeing on foot, according to aerial footage.
He was detained at a gas station at East Third Street and South Gage Avenue.
When asked if he thinks he did anything wrong, Alex said: "After the fact, yeah, but beforehand, no."
The CHP tells Kim they plan to determine whether the man was under the influence at the time.
No one was injured during the pursuit.
