Pasadena

Police Arrest Driver Who They Let Slip Away After Nearly 3-Hour Pursuit

A speeding driver who led police on a nearly three-hour pursuit before officers deemed his driving too dangerous and called off the chase was arrested at his Altadena home Monday morning, authorities said.

The man drove in opposite lanes and reached speeds of 100 mph as he tried to evade capture Sunday night. The pursuit began about 5 p.m. in Pasadena and continued on freeways through downtown LA, the Westside, the San Fernando Valley and Altadena.

Pasadena police ended the pursuit about 7:36 p.m. because of public safety concerns, and they knew who the driver was and expected to arrest him.

"Once we got confirmation that he was not armed and we knew his identity, that's when we decided to cancel the pursuit," Pasadena police Lt. Tracey Ibarra said.

On Monday, 48-year-old Karnik Kendirian was taken into custody at his home just after 8 a.m., said Sgt. Joel Nebel of the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department.

Kendirian was wanted for making criminal threats, according to the California Highway Patrol. He had also been involved in reports of vandalisms and disturbances the day before the pursuit, Ibarra said.

Evading police will be among the charges, and because of the manner he drove, it will likely be a felony, police said.

Calling off a pursuit is common and is left to the discretion of the agency in charge, CHP officials say.

"It's more common than people think," CHP Officer Jose Barrios said. "We also look at road conditions and speed, is the person driving in such disregard for public safety that they are really jeopardizing the public."

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