Los Angeles

Reckless, Possibly Intoxicated Pursuit Driver Tries to Ram Sheriff's SUV in Compton Standoff

The LA County Compton Sheriff Station told NBCLA the man driving the truck was high on some type of unknown substance and driving.

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A likely intoxicated driver who led a reckless pursuit, ramming sheriff's vehicles and driving over spike strips, has been arrested after having been in a standoff with deputies at the end of a Compton dead-end street.

The pursuit began with the driver behind the wheel of a white pickup truck leading a chase after deputies observed reckless driving.

The driver kept slowing and starting the chase in the Compton area, near Rosecrans and N Wilmington avenues.

Authorities rammed the truck twice, but the driver was able to continue.

The LA County Compton Sheriff Station told NBCLA the man driving the truck was high on some type of unknown substance and driving.

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At one point, the driver could be seen inhaling from a white balloon while behind the wheel.

By 2 p.m., the truck was boxed in by authorities at Poplar Street and Wilmington Avenue in Compton, with the driver refusing to get out.

Sheriff's deputies tossed gas canisters in the back window of the truck in an attempt to get him out, but he hung his head out the window and refused to exit. He was seen wiping his face with his shirt after the tear gas was deployed, but he remained in the truck.

He then began accelerating backward and ramming a sheriff's SUV multiple times.

Authorities told residents to stay indoors as they attempted to get him out of the truck for longer than an hour.

"At one point they threw some gas bombs inside his truck," said Patty Rodriguez, who lives nearby. "He just grabbed them and threw them back out."

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