A man suspected of stealing a convertible BMW led deputies on a chase from West Hollywood to Santa Monica Thursday morning, and refused to surrender until flash-bang grenades and tear gas forced him out of the vehicle.
About 1 a.m., deputies began pursuing a man in his 30s as he sped through West Hollywood before heading west on Santa Monica Boulevard, according to a watch commander at the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department West Hollywood Station.
The man stopped at the intersection of Stanford Street and Santa Monica Boulevard but refused to get out of the stolen BMW 6 Series convertible. A sheriff's helicopter circled overhead blaring orders for him to surrender, the watch commander said.
Deputies fired bean bag-type rounds at the car, breaking its windows and tossing flash bang grenades inside the car.
About 2:30 a.m., deputies fired tear gas into the car, and the man finally got out through the passenger’s side.
Some deputies were so overcome by the gas, they doused themselves in water and had to be treated by firefighters at the scene.
The driver was taken from the scene in an ambulance and will likely be booked on suspicion of grand theft auto, the watch commander said.
