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Pursuit Driver Arrested After Standoff With Police

A woman who jumped from a pickup truck during a high-speed pursuit was released from police custody Monday night and back home with her child.

The woman, who police did not identify, was in the truck as police gave chase from San Fernando Valley to Palmdale.

She got out of the moving pickup after it pulled into a gated community in Quartz Hill. She ran inside a home, where police said she met with her young son. The driver sped off.

The woman was detained by police for questioning, but was later released. Police said the woman was not facing charges.

The pursuit began just after 4 p.m. in the west San Fernando Valley, where police attempted to stop the driver for alleged reckless driving.

The driver did not stop and led police on a chase, at times reaching speeds of 120 mph.

The California Highway Patrol identified the driver as 32-year-old Sean Druscher, who was on probation for a drug violation. Officials said he fled because he had not met with his probation officer.

The truck was reported to be on the westbound 118 Freeway around 5:15 p.m. in the Porter Ranch area, and led police on a chase toward Simi Valley before returning toward Porter Ranch.

The pickup truck was traveling at a high speed on the 14 Freeway northbound at 5:50 p.m., at times speeding along the shoulder of the freeway, with CHP officers in pursuit.

About 5:30 p.m. Druscher exited the freeway and continued on surface streets, running red lights at several intersections.

Druscher led officers to Palmdale. At one point, he slowed down and his passenger fled the truck and ran into their home. The driver continued until colliding with another vehicle at an intersection. After a brief standoff, he surrendered around 7 p.m.

At one point during the standoff Druscher allegedly smoked drugs with a pipe, the CHP said.

Druscher was booked for felony evading.

It was initially reported that the driver was wanted in a hit-and-run crash.

NBC4's Willian Avila contributed to this report.

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