A 52-year-old man who police were trying to arrest for threatening to shoot people at a hamburger stand in Pasadena managed to break free, steal a police cruiser and lead officers on an eight-mile pursuit before the squad car was stopped by being rammed, a police lieutenant said Tuesday.
The bizarre incident began when police received a call at 9:47 p.m. Monday from employees at an In N’ Out Burgers restaurant in the 2100 block of E. Foothill Boulevard, who said a man was blocking the eatery’s driveway and threatening to shoot people, Pasadena Police Lt. John Luna said.
Officers arriving at the scene about 9:55 p.m. located the suspect, identified as Joel Soto of Shafter, Calif. “As officers were trying to put Soto in custody, he broke free made it to one of the police cruisers, and stole it,” Luna said.
Luna said Soto led police on a chase that ended at 10:07 p.m. near the intersection of North Lake Avenue and East Claremont Street; when another officer used his car to ram the stolen cruiser and bring it to a stop.
Soto then got out of the police car through the driver’s side window and climbed onto the roof of the police car, where he was hit by a Taser shot, according to police. He jumped down onto the ground and was taken into custody by officers.
In the follow-up investigation, detectives learned that Soto allegedly threatened one In N’ Out employee, assaulted the janitor with a fire extinguisher and then threatened to kill him.
Soto also allegedly smashed the front door glass with the extinguisher and threatened to kill another employee inside the restaurant.
After Soto’s arrest he was taken to a hospital for treatment of his injuries, Luna said. No other injuries were reported.
Soto faces a variety of charges that include assault with a deadly weapon, making criminal threats, grand theft auto, felony vandalism and felony evading, police said.
—City News Service