Two detained after their vehicle crashes into another vehicle during police pursuit

Two men were arrested early Tuesday morning after leading police on a car chase, during which the driver crashed into another car, leaving one person injured, police said.

Just after 1 a.m., a Glendale officer initiated a pursuit after the driver, later identified as Oscar Cardenas, 23, failed to stop when the officer tried to pull him over for an equipment violation near Brand Boulevard and Colorado Street, said Glendale Police spokeswoman Tahnee Lightfoot.

During the pursuit, the suspect’s car struck another vehicle at Brand Boulevard and Los Feliz Road, leaving an unsuspecting driver, a 56-year-old Fontana man, with unknown injuries. He was reportedly in stable condition, Lightfoot said Tuesday. The passenger in his car, a 35-year-old man, was not injured.

Shortly after, Cardenas stopped the car at Brand Boulevard and Eulalia Street, where he and a passenger, later identified as Benny Galicia, 21, got out and fled on foot, Lightfoot said.

Glendale authorities set up a perimeter in the area with the help of Burbank and Los Angeles police and Glendale’s K-9 unit, and located Cardenas and Galicia at separate times. The incident was reportedly cleared at 6:20 a.m.

Inside the suspect vehicle, police discovered suspected heroin, along with a tool police said is used to steal items from post office mailboxes, and several items containing people’s personal information, Lightfoot said.

Police also determined that Cardenas was under the influence of drugs, she added.

Cardenas was arrested on suspicion of evading police, hit and run, driving under the influence, possession of a controlled substance, driving without a license and identity theft, Lightfoot said. He also had a $100,000 outstanding warrant for his arrest.

Meanwhile, Galicia was arrested on suspicion of possession of a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia, identity theft and resisting arrest.