Man Held for Allegedly Backing Vehicle Into Police

A Tujunga man suspected of trying to ram a police car last week was arrested Wednesday after allegedly trying to back his vehicle over police officers in the Verdugo Mountains, authorities said.

Steven Slepicka, 32, was taken into custody after leading officers on a brief but dangerous car chase that began at 5:15 p.m. in the 7200 block of Foothill Boulevard, said Sgt. Garth Grugal of the Los Angeles Police Department’s Foothill Division.

Slepicka will be booked on at least one count of assault with a deadly weapon on a police officer, Grugal added.

Police found Slepicka in a parking lot after receiving a tip from a caller who identified him as the man who tried to ram a police car on March 3, Grugal said.

But before officers could arrest him, Slepicka sped off in a 1987 Dodge Aries K sedan, leading police up Hillhaven Avenue and onto a fire road.

Slepicka led police down the winding road before he stopped to avoid hitting a metal gate across the road, the sergeant said.

Pinned between the barrier and the patrol car, Slepicka put the Dodge into reverse and jumped out before it hit the patrol car, Grugal said.

He then tried to run but was quickly captured, Grugal said.

“Those roads are generally not well maintained. They’re not very wide and the surrounding terrain makes them very dangerous,” he said. “He’s lucky he didn’t hurt himself or anybody else.”