LOS ANGELES — A suspect accused of driving through a police skirmish line near an anti-ICE protest in Koreatown led LAPD and CHP officers on a high-speed pursuit before crashing and attempting to flee on foot.
The pursuit began around 10:40 p.m. on June 11 in the area of Beverly Boulevard and Western Avenue where officers were working to contain riots that have broken out following the Trump administration’s ongoing immigration raids and federal troop deployment in Southern California.
LAPD officers attempted to stop the vehicle after it entered a restricted zone where officers and protesters had formed a line, KTLA reports. The driver refused to stop, launching a chaotic freeway pursuit that at times topped 100 miles per hour while the vehicle’s lights were off.
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From downtown Los Angeles, the suspect entered the northbound lanes of the 110 Freeway, accelerating to over 100 miles per hour while weaving through traffic with the vehicle’s headlights turned off, according to KTLA. Officers reported the vehicle came dangerously close to sideswiping other motorists as it traveled through multiple lanes at high speeds.
The suspect continued southbound onto the 105 and 405 freeways. Just after 11 p.m., the California Highway Patrol took over the pursuit after the vehicle entered the southbound 405 Freeway, according to the Daily Breeze.
At that point, the driver attempted to execute a U-turn using an on-ramp to exit the freeway in the wrong direction. CHP units quickly moved in to block the maneuver. The suspect then spun the vehicle around and exited the freeway into the Torrance area, continuing at speeds of approximately 80 miles per hour on surface streets with CHP patrol units in pursuit, KTLA reports.
As ground and aerial units tracked the vehicle into South Los Angeles, a tire appeared to come off near 8th Avenue. The driver eventually brought the car to a stop, exited the vehicle and attempted to flee on foot. Officers took the suspect into custody moments later, along with three passengers who remained in the vehicle.
Riots in L.A.
The incident occurred amid escalating unrest in Los Angeles over recent federal immigration raids. President Donald Trump authorized the deployment of National Guard troops and U.S. Marines to assist with immigration enforcement efforts in the city, a move that has drawn legal challenges from state officials.
California has filed suit to limit the military’s role, requesting that troops be restricted to protecting federal buildings.
Law enforcement tactics to manage demonstrations have included crowd dispersal tactics, curfews and arrests in Koreatown and downtown.
