A pack of suspected car thieves tried ditching one stolen Lexus for another to escape California Highway Patrol officers — but their high-speed getaway ended in a crash, a foot chase and multiple arrests.
“Officers attempted to stop the second vehicle, but its driver immediately fled, initiating a second pursuit through downtown Los Angeles,” the CHP wrote.
The chaos began around 2 a.m. Oct. 21, when CHP South Los Angeles officers attempted to pull over a white Lexus displaying an erroneous license plate. The driver ignored police commands and sped away at more than 80 mph.
Officers deployed a spike strip near the Interstate 105 and 110 interchange, puncturing the Lexus’ left front tire. But the driver kept going toward downtown as a law enforcement helicopter tracked the fleeing vehicle.
Near 3rd Street and Lower Grand Avenue, the suspects apparently tried a desperate switch-up, abandoning the damaged white Lexus and transferring into a second vehicle — a gray Lexus.
That only kicked off another pursuit, with the second driver reaching speeds approaching 80 mph before crashing near Broadway and College Street.
Multiple suspects scrambled from the wreck and ran, triggering foot pursuits as CHP South Los Angeles officers and additional responding units moved in.
Two suspects were apprehended by South Los Angeles officers, while additional CHP personnel detained several others.
The suspects are facing multiple charges, including felony evading, vehicle theft, possession of stolen vehicles, conspiracy and resisting or delaying officers.
Investigators determined both Lexus vehicles had been reported stolen.
“Officers also determined both vehicles displayed license plates that did not correspond to their assigned vehicle identification numbers.”
