An LAPD chase that began near Studio City and wound through the 101 and 5 freeways at slow speeds ended after a suspect crawled onto the freeway on a blown tire and was cornered at a North Hollywood motel.
A suspect wanted for allegedly assaulting a police officer with a deadly weapon was taken into custody late Wednesday night after a slow-speed LAPD pursuit that began in the San Fernando Valley, crossed two major freeways, and ended at a budget motel in North Hollywood.
According to the Los Angeles Police Department, the pursuit began around 9 p.m. Wednesday near Colfax Avenue and Ventura Boulevard in Studio City, when North Hollywood Division officers gave chase to a man driving a white Lexus sedan. The suspect was wanted on a warrant for allegedly assaulting an officer with a deadly weapon on Sunday during a domestic violence response.
The suspect is described by police as a known gang member with multiple prior felony convictions, including burglary and involuntary manslaughter. Police said he is considered armed and dangerous.
Rather than accelerating, the suspect drove at speeds averaging as low as 15 miles per hour for much of the pursuit. The Lexus limped along with a blown front tire, and the driver was seen chain-smoking cigarettes out the window, according to multiple reports.
The chase wound through surface streets in North Hollywood, onto the 101 Freeway, and then onto the 5 Freeway. At one point, the suspect exited the freeway in Hollywood for several minutes before re-entering the opposite side of the 101.
Nearly a dozen LAPD patrol cars followed throughout the pursuit. Officers spoke by phone with the suspect's wife during the chase, according to police. At about 9:30 p.m., the suspect exited Interstate 5 in the Lincoln Heights area and continued along Valley Boulevard through El Sereno and University Hills before circling back through the San Gabriel Valley.
The slow pace of the chase drew crowds of spectators who gathered along residential streets to watch the motorcade crawl past. One bystander dropped his pants and flashed officers on the live news helicopter broadcast covering the pursuit, according to footage posted on social media. No arrest or citation for the bystander was publicly announced.
Just after 11 p.m., the suspect pulled the heavily damaged Lexus off the freeway and exited at a motel near Lankershim Boulevard and Oxnard Street in North Hollywood. He abandoned the vehicle, ran inside the property, and made it to the second floor before officers cornered him.
Police tackled the suspect and took him into custody without further incident. No injuries to officers, the suspect, or bystanders were reported.
The suspect's name has not been publicly released. Police have not detailed the specific felony charges beyond the alleged assault with a deadly weapon on an officer.
LAPD has not released additional information as of publication. The San Fernando Valley Post will update this story as more details become available.
This article was generated with AI assistance.