A man was arrested for allegedly stealing a Los Angeles Police Department patrol car from Hollywood early Friday and leading officers on a chase to the San Fernando Valley.
Ethan Rutland, 28, was booked on suspicion of felony "unlawful taking or driving an emergency vehicle," and was being held on $55,000 bail, LAPD Officer Drake Madison said. His hometown was not known.
Officers had gone to the area of Hollywood Boulevard and Ivar Avenue about 1:45 a.m. on a report of a vandalism, Madison said.
As officers were in foot pursuit of a suspect, Rutland — who may have been under the influence of drugs — got into the patrol car, which had its engine running, and drove off, Madison said. It was unclear if Rutland had been involved in the vandalism, Madison said.
Police quickly located the patrol car, which had a GPS device in it, and chased it onto the northbound Hollywood (101) Freeway and into the San Fernando Valley, where the suspect exited at Canoga Avenue, Madison said. Along the way, officers had deployed a spike strip.
The patrol car hit a curb and stopped near Ventura Boulevard and DeSoto Avenue, and Rutland was arrested. Police weapons had been secured in the vehicle, and did not appear to have been tampered with, Madison said.
