Car-Theft Suspect Held After 150-Mile Chase

Asuspected car thief led authorities on a high-speed pursuit through the San Fernando, Santa Clarita and Antelope valleys Tuesday morning before he ran out of gas and was arrested in Lancaster.

Richard Rodriguez, 26, of Culver City was arrested about 4:40 a.m. after a chase that lasted nearly two hours, covered about 150 miles and reached speeds of 100 m.p.h., according to California Highway Patrol Officer A.J. Torres.

The chase began near Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles about 3 a.m., when Los Angeles patrol officers checked the car’s license plate and discovered it was stolen, Sgt. Greg Goldery said.

When officers attempted to pull the car over, it sped off. Officers chased the car onto the San Diego Freeway and then onto the Golden State Freeway to Magic Mountain, where three patrol cars from the CHP’s Newhall office took over.

Officers from the CHP’s Tejon office then pursued the car east on California 138 to the Antelope Valley. CHP officers there then picked up the pursuit, chasing the car south on California 14 through Lancaster. Torres said the vehicle exited the highway at Avenue I and raced through city streets at speeds of 75 m.p.h. Officers tried three times to force the driver to the side of the road, but were unsuccessful, Torres said.

Finally, the driver ran out of gas and stopped near Avenue M and Sierra Highway, where he was arrested. Torres said Rodriguez was being held in lieu of $250,000 bail.