COUNTYWIDE : 3 Youths Arrested After 20-Mile Chase

Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputies arrested three 17-year-olds fleeing in two stolen vehicles early Wednesday morning after a chase that began near Diamond Bar and ended in northern Orange County.

After apparently stealing a van in Cerritos, the three youths drove to Diamond Bar where they dumped that vehicle and stole two others, plus $500 worth of stereo equipment from a third vehicle, Sheriff’s Sgt. Roger Jewell said.

The youths, identified by authorities as gang members from Norwalk, were then apparently driving back to Norwalk when deputies began the chase, which covered about 20 miles and reached speeds of 85 m.p.h. It ended without injuries on the Riverside Freeway just before 2 a.m.

The youths face arraignment this morning on auto theft charges.

Jewell said the youths had been spotted during the theft and authorities were alerted. The deputies staked out Diamond Bar Boulevard near the ramp to the Orange Freeway. When the youths drove past and refused to stop, four sheriff’s patrol units began the pursuit. They were joined by several Orange County sheriff’s units and a sheriff’s helicopter.

One of the vehicles stopped along the Riverside Freeway near Harbor Boulevard in Anaheim, where two were arrested. A short time later, the other vehicle stopped along the Riverside Freeway near the Santa Ana Freeway, where the third youth surrendered without incident.