Suspect Chased on Foot Circles Back, Steals Patrol Car

A Pasadena police officer is facing embarrassing questions after a suspect he was chasing on foot Thursday circled back and stole his police cruiser, leading officers on a high speed chase much of the way on wheel rims--before crashing in downtown Los Angeles.

In a scene right out of a Hollywood movie, the man was taken into custody after negotiators spent two hours talking him down from a 50-foot ledge at the Department of Water and Power complex. Los Angeles firefighters had inflated an air bag below him in case the man decided to jump, officers said.

The 33-year-old man is being held at the Pasadena jail on suspicion of commercial burglary, grand theft and felony evading. Bail was set at $20,000. Police said the suspect gave a name but they have not verified his identity.

Meanwhile, the police car--or what remains of it--was towed back to Pasadena. “This is stuff movies are made of,” said Janet Pope, a Pasadena Police Department spokeswoman.

Pope declined to identify the officer who lost his patrol car, saying his name will be released after a preliminary investigation.

Senior police officials jokingly predicted that the officer might be on foot patrol for some time. “There are few things more embarrassing for an officer than seeing a thief steal your unit,” one officer said Thursday.

The chase began about 3:30 a.m. when the officer saw a shoplifting suspect running with a package on North Lake Avenue near Walnut Avenue. The officer jumped from his car, Pope said, and began chasing the man on foot.

A block south, the officer lost sight of the man. Moments later, Pope said, the officer saw him jump in his squad car, which had been left running, and drive away.

The suspect, who claims to be from Canoga Park, drove the wrong way on a one-way street before reaching the Pasadena Freeway. The car struck the freeway guard rails, blowing out some of the tires, police said.

Other officers pursued the stolen squad car to downtown Los Angeles. After leaving the freeway, the man crashed at the DWP complex at Temple and Hill streets.

Then he climbed onto a ledge, police said, threatening to jump to his death.

Pasadena police said it has been years since one of their cruisers has been stolen. As in many police departments, it is the practice of officers to leave the engine running when undertaking foot pursuits.

In Thursday’s incident, Pasadena Police Lt. Keith Jones said there had been a report of a theft from a Ralphs supermarket in the 100 block of North Lake Avenue, near where the man was seen running. Jones said the man allegedly left the Ralphs through the loading area with merchandise.

Jones said the arrested man was taken to a medical facility because he was believed to be under the influence of cocaine.