Ramblings' Journal

Police car barrels through brick wall in LA chase

 

 

This morning, a Los Angeles police chase resulted in a California Highway Patrol car careening out of control and through a brick wall into a furniture store when the officer driving couldn't negotiate a tight, high-speed turn.

The chase was broadcast on Los Angeles television stations (what else is new?), and had been picked up by Fox News Channel for viewing by the remainder of the nation.

A man who led police and California Highway Patrol officers on a wild chase from Downey to Watts early Tuesday is in custody and being held on a $1 million kidnapping warrant, authorities said.

Enrique Reyes, 27, was wanted on the warrant, which was issued out of Los Angeles, and faces other probable charges in connection with the chase, said Downey police Sgt. Jeff Calhoun.

The driver got out and ran after a tire blew on the getaway vehicle, but he was arrested a short time later, according to CHP Officer Francisco Villalobos. The Associated Press reports that a woman in the vehicle also is being held as authorities try to determine if she was a kidnapping victim.

A CHP officer whose cruiser barrelled through a building wall and into a Walnut Park furniture store after he failed to negotiate a hard right turn was not injured, Villalobos said. Officials later said the crash may have been caused by a mechanical error.

The officer only suffered minor injuries. Reyes was captured a short time later when his car broke down.

Posted by mhking at July 26, 2005 06:21 PM | TrackBack