WOODLAND HILLS : Suspect Seized in Freeway Chase

A Van Nuys man suspected of robbing a Westlake Village bank Monday led authorities on a half-hour chase along the Ventura Freeway and through city streets before he was arrested, Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputies said.

Lynn Smith, 40, was arrested on suspicion of bank robbery and was being held at the Lost Hills sheriff’s substation, Sheriff’s Sgt. Richard Gurr said. Bail had not been set yet.

Smith was arrested in connection with the robbery of Security Pacific Bank at 32110 Agoura Road, Gurr said. A man walked into the bank about 2:30 p.m., handed the bank teller a demand note and left with an undetermined amount of money, Gurr said.

Witnesses told police that the robber got into an orange Honda and deputies soon spotted a car matching that description driving east on the Ventura Freeway near De Soto Avenue, Gurr said.

When the deputies tried to stop the car, the driver fled, leading them on the chase that reached speeds up to 65 m.p.h. on the freeway and 45 m.p.h. on surface streets, Gurr said.

The chase ended in the 14100 block of Delano Street, where the man stopped and fled on foot from the car. Two deputies caught Smith and recovered what they believe was the stolen money, Gurr said.