Local News in Brief : Youth, 16, Captured After Freeway Chase

A 16-year-old Compton youth led California Highway Patrol officers on a chase through Ventura Freeway traffic and Reseda streets Thursday, crashing into a police car and motorcycle before being caught as he tried to escape on a bicycle he took from a small boy, the CHP reported.

The youth, whose name was not released because of his age, was arrested on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon and possession of a stolen car, said CHP Officer Rich Carmona.

Carmona said he stopped the teen-ager for passing on the shoulder on the eastbound Ventura Freeway at White Oak Avenue at about 3 p.m. The youth sped away, swerving at about 80 m.p.h. through freeway traffic moving about 25 m.p.h., Carmona said.

The chase continued onto Reseda streets, where the youth rammed an officer’s car, drove on the wrong side of the street at about 60 m.p.h. and ran red lights, Carmona said. A group of people standing in a gas station “had to dive out of the way to avoid his hitting them,” Carmona said.

The youth threw the car into reverse, hitting a CHP motorcycle and two parked cars, Carmona said. The youth fled on foot until he grabbed a bicycle from a 10-year-old boy, but a CHP officer on foot caught him at Gault Street and Hesperia Avenue.

There were no injuries in the incident.

Carmona said officers found a .38-caliber revolver in the youth’s car, which was found to be stolen. The youth has a history of criminal convictions and was wanted in connection with an armed robbery in Compton, Carmona said.