Dramatic freeway pursuit by cops ends as driver is boxed in by traffic

A high-speed pursuit came to a dramatic end Monday morning in Tarzana when a driver fleeing police got stuck in traffic and was pulled from his vehicle at gunpoint in front of onlookers.

The chase began about 8:30 a.m. on the eastbound 101 Freeway in Agoura Hills when a California Highway Patrol officer tried to pull over a black SUV for speeding. Instead of stopping, the SUV sped off and tried to run over a motorcycle officer, said CHP Officer Francisco Villalobos.

The chase was called off when the driver pulled off the freeway and lost his pursuers after about 15 minutes, authorities said. But within minutes, Los Angeles police spotted the vehicle and the pursuit began again.

The driver sped back onto the 101 Freeway and exited on Reseda Boulevard in Tarzana. Once the driver exited, he steered right into rush hour traffic and was boxed in. LAPD, CHP and officers in unmarked vehicles quickly surrounded the car with their guns drawn.

Video of the pursuit showed that the man stayed in his car until officers walked up and grabbed him in the driver’s seat and pulled him through the window around 9:20 a.m. The man’s identity was not immediately available, nor were possible charges he could be facing, but officials said it would include failing to yield to police.

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