Police seek public’s help in locating suspect who led them on pursuit

Glendale police are asking for the public’s help in finding a 44-year-old man who fled from them during a traffic pursuit Tuesday, prompting a perimeter search in La Cañada Flintridge.

Police say Kenneth Bryan Lee eluded the perimeter in the 1100 block of Descanso Drive in La Cañada, where he abandoned his Honda Accord during the chase.

The pursuit started about 11:35 a.m. when an officer was patrolling the Camino San Rafael neighborhood in an unmarked vehicle as part of burglary suppression operation, according to Glendale police.

Lee reportedly cut off the officer, catching his attention and prompting him to follow the suspect. But the officer briefly lost sight of Lee until a cyclist frantically pointed him out, according to police.

The officer pulled Lee over, exited his car and reportedly spotted a pair of gloves and bolt cutters on the passenger seat. Lee then hit the gas pedal, fleeing south on Flintridge Drive and out of sight, police said.

Several pedestrians walking around the neighborhood pointed out Lee’s direction for the officer.

Police said they believed Lee was possibly surveying homes to burglarize.

Officers were able to track the Honda’s registered address to Descanso Drive as they followed Lee on streets and freeways.

He eventually stopped, parked the Honda in the driveway of his parents’ home on Descanso Drive and ran away, police said.

Officers, including Los Angeles County Sheriff’s deputies and police dogs, searched a nearby wash where Lee had been seen as well as his parent’s home, but they were unable to find him.

Inside Lee’s vehicle, police reportedly found two pairs of gloves, a duffel bag, a backpack containing bolt cutters, a hack saw, a wrench, and a power saw and a plastic crate containing cut pieces of copper wiring.

Lee is on post-release community supervision for a burglary conviction as well as probation for a drug-related offense, police said.

Anyone with information about Lee’s whereabouts is asked to call Glendale burglary detectives at (818) 548-3127. To remain anonymous, call Glendale Crime Stoppers at (818) 507-7867.

Follow Veronica Rocha on Google+ and on Twitter: @VeronicaRochaLA.