Passanger in custody
By Sam Catanzaro
The driver of a stolen car led police on a high-speed chase from Long Beach to Santa Monica on Thursday before leaving the vehicle in an apartment garage and fleeing on foot.
The pursuit began in Orange County with California Highway Patrol chasing the suspect on local freeways before ending near the area of California Avenue and 12th Street in Santa Monica when the stolen car was abandoned in the parking garage of an apartment building. The passenger exited the car–a black Toyota Corolla–during the pursuit and was taken into custody by CHP. The driver fled on foot and was later taken into custody by police.
The driver, described by eyewitness Brendon Colon, appeared to be of “Latino descent”, no bigger than 6 foot, around 235 pounds, wearing a black shirt with a “big” tattoo sleeve on his left arm. Colon and his friend were skating in the area when the suspect almost hit them with the stolen car.
“We’re just taking our cruise. He [friend] starts crossing the street, I am probably about 10 feet behind him. In the middle of the street, this guy jumps off his board because there is this car, a black Corolla, coming around the corner at least 30, 35 mph. He jumps off his board and then the Corolla continues to go straight,” Colon said. “He ditches the car and goes on foot.”
This story is still developing and will be updated as more information becomes available.
