2 Teen-Agers Seized After Car Chase

Two 14-year-old youths were arrested on suspicion of felony reckless driving and evading arrest after an 80-m.p.h. police chase in Gardena early Wednesday that ended when their Cadillac crashed into a mailbox, police said.

Gardena police also booked the youths for possession of live ammunition, in the form of shotgun shells, said Lt. Gary Cherry. The owner of the 1977 blue Cadillac the youths were driving told police that the car had been stolen from him at gunpoint Tuesday night, Cherry said.

Los Angeles Police Department Southeast division detectives are investigating whether the car had been involved in a series of other incidents, including two armed robberies and a drive-by shooting, police said.

The youths are being held at Los Padrinos Juvenile Hall, said Detective Greg White.

The chase began at 4:20 a.m., when police using radar saw the youths going 50 m.p.h. in a 35-m.p.h. zone, on 149th Street near Western Avenue, Cherry said. When officers attempted to pull the car over at Marine Avenue and Western, the car sped east on Marine, Cherry said.

The car was going 80 m.p.h. when the youths attempted to turn north on Budlong Avenue and hit the mailbox and a tree, Cherry said. They were treated at Gardena Memorial Hospital for minor injuries and released to police, he said.