Man Charged With Drunk Driving, Theft : Fire Chief’s Stolen Car Strikes 17 Autos

A man who appeared to be drunk stole a fire chief’s car Thursday from the scene of a fire in Granada Hills and then drove into 17 parked cars in 20 minutes, authorities said.

A Mission Hills man was arrested later and was being held at the Van Nuys jail on suspicion of drunken driving, grand theft auto and felony vandalism. Bail was set at $6,060. The police identified him as Michael James Smith, 24.

Los Angeles police said the incident began when a man asked firefighters to give him a ride home after his car broke down about 5:30 a.m. near a fire at a small-appliance repair shop at 17538 Chatsworth St. When firefighters refused, officers said, the man took off in the battalion chief’s car, which was parked nearby with its engine running and red lights flashing.

The 1978 red-and-white Dodge struck 17 parked cars as it barreled through four blocks of residential and commercial streets, police said. About 6 a.m., Fire Department ambulance personnel spotted the chief’s empty car smashed against a Cadillac about a mile from the fire scene.

Four vehicles were sideswiped on a commercial strip along the 17600 block of Chatsworth Street. The rest were struck on the residential streets of Gaynor Avenue, Montgomery Avenue and San Jose Street.

The Fire Department vehicle broadsided the Cadillac at the corner of Densmore Avenue and San Jose Street, dragging the Cadillac into the middle of the street, police said.

Smith was arrested half an hour later when he returned to the fire scene with another man to retrieve his stalled vehicle, police said. A loaded handgun was found in the back seat of the broken-down car.

Smith is wanted by Simi Valley police and Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputies for failure to appear in court on two other drunk-driving charges, police said.

The fire itself caused an estimated $13,000 damage to Northridge Appliance Repair. Flames shot through the roof and charred most of the interior. No injuries were reported.

A police spokesman said Smith is considered a suspect in the arson fire because he smelled of gasoline and had singed hair on his head and arms. Investigators also believe that the back door of the appliance store was rammed by a car.