The driver of an allegedly stolen Mercedes SUV was forcefully pulled from the vehicle and arrested by California Highway Patrol officers Thursday on the Santa Monica (10) Freeway after leading them on a slow-speed pursuit.
The pursuit began Thursday evening in Paramount after sheriff’s deputies attempted to stop the driver on suspicion of driving a stolen vehicle, according to a spokesperson at the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department’s Lakewood station.
The driver led authorities on a pursuit on surface streets into the South Los Angeles area. He pulled over and appeared to surrender at one point, only to re-enter the SUV and continue driving.
By the time he entered the eastbound Santa Monica (10) Freeway, both the vehicle’s rear tires were flat, thanks to spike strips deployed by the CHP. The SUV continued driving slowly, wobbling slightly from side to side, until the CHP employed a PIT maneuver and disabled the vehicle in the University Park area.
After a moment the driver exited the vehicle with his arms up, but then got back inside. A handful of officers carrying shields then descended on the SUV, smashing one of its windows and pulling the man out and onto the ground, where he was handcuffed and taken away.