Car Theft Suspect Caught After Long Freeway Chase

A suspected car thief led police on a freeway chase across Los Angeles County for more than an hour before smashing his vehicle in Long Beach early Tuesday, police said.

Dejon H. Picquet, 22, of Los Angeles was arrested by police after he lost control of his car and crashed into the center divider of the Long Beach Freeway, said Long Beach Police Officer Maria Lopez.

Picquet was booked on suspicion of auto theft, hit-and-run, damaging property, evading arrest and driving with a suspended license, Lopez said. He also had a burglary warrant for his arrest, she said. Bail was set at $85,000.

Sheriff’s deputies in Lynwood noticed Picquet when they saw him driving a white car without its headlights on. Running a check on the car’s license plate, they found it had been stolen and called the California Highway Patol for help, Lopez said.

CHP officers chased Picquet along freeways as he led them through South, East and West Los Angeles before heading back to Long Beach. There, police followed him as he sped along surface streets and got back onto the Long Beach Freeway, Lopez said.

There, he smashed into the center divider and slid across three lanes of the freeway before coming to a halt. Picquet, apparently unhurt, tried to run from the car but was quickly caught, Lopez said.