California Highway Patrol officers arrested two suspects who stole a park ranger vehicle and led police on a dangerous high speed pursuit.
The chase began about 10:30 a.m. near Smokey Bear Road and Pyramid Lake Road, said CHP Officer Francisco Villalobos. A man and a woman were pulled over by Park Rangers at Hungry Valley State Park for allegedly stealing a vehicle with Arizona license plates.
The suspects were in the process of being arrested when an altercation occurred and the male suspect was shot, according to the CHP.
A female suspect had been handcuffed and placed in the SUV, and the male suspect somehow slipped his handcuffs and got into a fight with a ranger, CHP Sgt. Denise Joslyn said. Shots were fired and the man was wounded in the torso, but he jumped into the law enforcement SUV and drove off.
"The suspect entered the Ranger's vehicle, drove away, made a U-turn and then drove at the officer," said Lt. Dave Dolson of the LA County Sheriff's Dept. "In fearing that the suspect was trying to run him down, fired his duty weapon."
During the chase, the driver of the SUV exited the 5 Freeway, and while on a surface street, he barreled through an intersection, sideswiping at least four vehicles.
During the chase, the suspect called 911 and reported that he had been shot and gave his location, Joslyn said. The man stopped the SUV, CHP officers arrested him, and paramedics transported him for hospital treatment.
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The names of the suspects were not immediately available.
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