Patrol Car Breaks CHP Officer’s Ankle

A California Highway Patrol car ran over an officer and broke his ankle early Wednesday when he leaped out of the car to chase a suspect.

Officer Ron Gleason, 35, a five-year veteran, was in good condition after undergoing surgery at AMI Medical Center in North Hollywood, Officer Dave Grajeda said.

Gleason was injured about 2:30 a.m. after a brief car chase involving a man wanted for reckless driving.

Gary White, 36, of Studio City was later arrested on suspicion of reckless driving causing an injury, failure to yield to an officer and drunken driving, Grajeda said.

The CHP said Gleason and two other officers had stopped a motorist for a traffic violation on Laurel Canyon Boulevard when they saw a car speed off the Ventura Freeway.

They got into their patrol car and chased the vehicle about a mile at speeds up to 70 m.p.h. The CHP said the speeding car pulled into a driveway in the 4400 block of Laurel Grove Avenue, where the driver got out and ran into the back yard.

Gleason jumped out of a back door of the CHP car as it was still rolling to a stop. A rear wheel ran over him, breaking his ankle, CHP officials said. While the two other officers aided Gleason, the man got away.

Several CHP and Los Angeles police officers using a helicopter and a police dog began a search. White surrendered about 4 a.m. in front of a nearby house, authorities said.