3 Suspects Chased on 4 Freeways But Police Corral Them on Foot

A police chase that began in Fullerton ended Thursday with three suspects in jail in West Los Angeles, after they drove at more 80 m.p.h. on Southland freeways to elude capture.

“While they didn’t get in an accident, they caused several of them,” said William Burdick, a spokesman for the California Highway Patrol.

It was not immediately known whether any accidents resulted in serious injury.

The three unidentified suspects were first spotted tampering with a motorcycle near the 1800 block of North Euclid Street in Fullerton, a Fullerton police spokesman said.

When they drove off, a witness jotted down the license number and called police. The vehicle was again spotted about 4:30 p.m. near Imperial Highway and Euclid Street, and police took chase, Burdick said.

A Los Angeles Police Department helicopter took up the chase in the air and followed the suspects as they headed eastbound on the Orange Freeway (California 57), then westbound on the Riverside Freeway (California 91), then northbound on the Santa Ana Freeway (Interstate 5) into Los Angeles.

The suspects turned westbound onto the Santa Monica Freeway (Interstate 10) and exited at the Arlington Avenue off-ramp, then traveled a short distance before they stopped and ran from their vehicle in West Los Angeles. They were caught by L.A.P.D. officers, who were assisted by officers from other jurisdictions.

The CHP said the vehicle had been reported stolen in the Lake Elsinore area.