Woman charged in police chase

Ben Godar

A Burbank woman suspected of participating in what Burbank Police

called a “reverse kidnapping,” which led to a freeway chase, is being

held without bail on a variety of charges.

The bizarre string of events began when a 17-year-old Burbank girl

ran away from home June 6 and took shelter at a residence in North

Hollywood, police said. When the residents of the home became

concerned that the girl would bring unwanted police attention, they

asked her to leave. When she refused, the girl was allegedly beaten

and driven back to her mother’s home in the 1400 block of Rose

Street, police said.

The girl’s mother called police with a description of the car in

which the girl was dropped off, and police spotted the car on Burbank

Boulevard being driven by 33-year-old Dianna Baker. A pursuit ensued,

and Baker allegedly got on the Hollywood (101) Freeway and then

collided with numerous cars as she tried to drive between two lanes

of westbound traffic. She was arrested in Hollywood after her car

became disabled.

“It was a somewhat unusual situation,” spokesman Sgt. Will Berry

said. “It was kind of a reverse kidnapping.”

Baker was charged with evading police, possession of a stolen car

and narcotics, and driving with a suspended license. No charges

related to the alleged beating of the teenager have been filed, but

the LAPD continues to investigate the incident, police and district

attorney’s officials said.