The 2 1/2-hour pursuit Monday of a reportedly stolen car that began in South Gate ended on the San Diego (405) Freeway in Long Beach, where the driver gave up without incident.
It was unclear if the motorist in the gray Kia Sorrento simply ran out of gas or decided to give up. He was the lone occupant in the vehicle.
The pursuit began at 10:38 a.m. in the area of Firestone Boulevard and Atlantic Avenue, according to South Gate Police Sgt. Heriberto Gutierrez.
The suspect was identified as 32-year-old Gilbert Barajas of South Gate, Gutierrez said.
Barajas led police and California Highway Patrol officers on a long chase that involved at least five freeways and many surface streets in the southeast Los Angeles County area, aided by sparse traffic on the Memorial Day holiday.
He slammed the Sorrento into another vehicle at one point, Gutierrez said. It was not immediately known if anyone was injured in that vehicle; no one from that vehicle has come forward, the sergeant said.
Television footage of the chase showed that Barajas narrowly missed hitting a bicyclist. He was also seen throwing papers out of the driver’s side window.
Barajas’ wife told ABC7 that the couple had separated two days ago. She was on the phone with him during the chase saying “if you love me, pull over,” according to ABC7.
He eventually surrendered to CHP officers at 1:20 p.m. on the southbound 405 Freeway near the Los Angeles River. Officers cleared traffic on both sides of the freeway during the stop.
Barajas was arrested on evading police, driving a stolen vehicle, receiving stolen property and assault with a deadly weapon.
He will be arraigned in Downey Superior Court on Wednesday.
— City News Service