Police Chase Shuts Down Freeway for Hours
A police pursuit that began in Compton just after 7 p.m. Saturday ended on a freeway transition road here, snarling traffic and shutting down the southbound Orange Freeway for several hours.
Compton Police Capt. Steven Roller said the occupants of the car, a man and woman, finally surrendered after being pursued along freeways and surface streets in Los Angeles and Orange counties for more than an hour by several police vehicles and two helicopters. The suspects had not been identified late Saturday.
After the vehicle came to a stop at the interchange of the Orange, Santa Ana and Garden Grove freeways, police approached but the driver suddenly accelerated, Roller said. A police officer fired his gun and several rounds struck the car, which stopped again. A police dog was ordered toward the car and bit the woman in the leg. Both occupants then surrendered, Roller said.
Details were sketchy Saturday, but Roller said the pursuit began in Compton after patrol officers heard shots being fired and saw a car speeding away.
The incident was under investigation by Compton and Santa Ana police, he said.
The California Highway Patrol said the southbound lanes of the Orange Freeway at the interchange of the Garden Grove Freeway were closed shortly before 8 p.m. while authorities investigated.
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