LAWNDALE : Manhunt for 2 Suspects Shuts Freeway Lanes

Rush-hour traffic on the San Diego Freeway was gridlocked from the South Bay to West Los Angeles on Thursday afternoon when officials shut down southbound lanes to search for two suspected armed robbers in Lawndale.

A sheriff’s special weapons team was flown in from East Los Angeles to search for two men who allegedly pulled a gun on a motorist who had picked them up at Alondra Park, Sgt. Robin Sawyer said.

The motorist pulled into a muffler shop on Redondo Beach Boulevard and tossed his ignition keys from the car. The two suspects fled without stealing anything and were seen entering bushes along the freeway shoulder, Sawyer said.

Deputies cordoned off the area and began looking for the men. California Highway Patrol officers forced traffic off the freeway at Hawthorne Boulevard at about 3:30 p.m. and set up a detour to the Artesia Boulevard on-ramp, Officer Bob Smart said. One man was arrested at about 4:45 p.m., Sawyer said, and all lanes were reopened about 5 p.m.