Police Chase Winds Through Silver Lake, Ends in Arrest

The chase took place mostly on surface streets and lasted about an hour

A vehicle pursuit which took place primarily in residential areas in Silver Lake and Echo Park for almost an hour Tuesday evening ended in the suspect’s arrest.

The chase started at about 5:40 p.m., when officers tried to pull over the white pickup truck for multiple unsafe lane changes near Sheldon Street in Burbank, according to Officer Christian Cracraft with CHP.

Officers were suspicious of whether the suspect's vehicle matched the license plate’s registration, Cracraft said.

The suspect drove in circles through surface streets in Silver Lake and Echo Park for the majority of the chase.

Before entering the Silver Lake hills, the suspect fled from police through Burbank on the northbound 5 Freeway. Although the chase began during rush hour, freeway traffic ahead of the suspect, who was traveling about 65 mph, looked clear through Los Feliz, according to aerial reports.

But the suspect changed course and transitioned to the southbound 2 Freeway, which ended within a mile of his changing paths.

The chase followed the suspect through residential areas in Silver Lake, where he circled through the same streets – at one point, he made the same turn at least three times – for about a half an hour.

At about 6:20 p.m., the suspect was circling Silver Lake heading south toward the downtown area before turning back into the routine he created.

Surface streets were lined with parked cars, and too small for CHP to attempt a PIT maneuver – a tactic that requires an officer pull up next to the suspect’s vehicle and turn it around, facing traffic.

This move can effectively make the suspect lose control of the vehicle and stop.

Radio communications noted that about 45 minutes into the pursuit CHP had permission to attempt a PIT maneuver when conditions were safe – ideally, a wide, well-lit street.

When the suspect turned onto Fletcher Street on the west side of the 5 Freeway, CHP officers successfully completed a PIT maneuver, sending the suspect’s vehicle backwards into a tree.

Officers surrounded the vehicle with guns drawn. Within minutes, the vehicle inched forward before coming to a stop.

The suspect exited the vehicle through the driver's side window and laid himself on the ground. He was then handcuffed and taken into custody.

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