Driver, Boa in Tow, Leads Police on 100-M.P.H. Chase

A man who at times had a six-foot boa constrictor wrapped around his neck led police on a frenzied, 2 1/2-hour car chase at speeds greater than 100 m.p.h. before an officer rammed him and stopped him in Agoura Hills, authorities said today.

Steven Paul Moore, 32, of Lake View Terrace, was arrested Sunday night at the end of the estimated 180-mile trek on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon--his car--and evading police. Police said they believe he was under the influence of alcohol, PCP and methamphetamine.

The pursuit, involving the Los Angeles Police Department and the California Highway Patrol, began at 8:30 p.m. in the 11900 block of Gager Street in Lake View Terrace and covered freeways and surface streets in Lake View Terrace, La Canada Flintridge, Castaic, Chatsworth and Canoga Park.

Patrol officers were going to Moore’s home to investigate a report that a woman had been assaulted there. As they approached the house, Moore sped away in his 1986 Dodge with his pet snake, authorities said.

Officers following the car reported seeing the snake wrapped around the driver’s head at various times during the pursuit.

In Valencia, the suspect repeatedly exited the freeway and re-entered it traveling the wrong direction. There were no collisions, and the CHP stopped traffic when the suspect was on the freeway, officers said.

The pursuit reached as far north as Hasley Canyon Road, near Castaic, they said, before the suspect turned around and headed back toward Los Angeles. He eventually drove westbound on the Simi Valley Freeway and then south on Topanga Canyon Boulevard to the Ventura Freeway.

After heading west again, the Dodge exited on Chesebro Road in Agoura, rammed a waiting CHP car and was moving around the squad car to go back onto the freeway when it was rammed and finally stopped by a second CHP car, officers said.

There were no injuries. Moore was arrested and taken to County-USC Medical Center for treatment of drug ingestion, authorities said.