Watch driver of stolen Mercedes lead police on erratic, slow-speed chase through South L.A.
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The driver of a reportedly stolen Mercedes-Benz was taken into custody Thursday night after leading California Highway Patrol officers on a meandering, slow-speed chase across South Los Angeles.
For much of the nearly 40-minute journey, the driver appeared to stop at red lights and obey traffic laws, Sgt. Christian Stevens of the California Highway Patrol said. But the driver did not comply with officers’ requests to get out of the vehicle.
The pursuit began a few minutes before 10 p.m., after deputies from the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department got word that a white Mercedes-Benz SUV had been stolen in the Lakewood area on the westbound 91 from Long Beach.
After L.A. County sheriff’s deputies requested assistance from the California Highway Patrol, the driver led a fleet of law enforcement vehicles on a 40-minute journey on South L.A.’s surface streets and highways. He refused to pull over, even after at least one rear tire was punctured by a spike strip.
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“The chase went all throughout Los Angeles,” Stevens said. “He made so many turns. … We were notified at about 9:58 p.m., and we got the driver into custody at 10:36 p.m.”
The suspect, identified by the CHP as Luis Gutierrez, was charged with stealing a vehicle and attempting to evade police.
About 15 minutes into the chase, as the driver drove north on Western Avenue, officers attempted to throw a spike strip in front of the vehicle’s tires to deflate them. But the effort was unsuccessful and he kept driving.
At 10:17 p.m., an officer threw another spike strip under the SUV, which deflated at least one rear tire.
Not long after, video showed the vehicle swerving between lanes.
Near the intersection of Western Avenue and Browning Boulevard, the driver pulled over. But after stepping out of the vehicle, Stevens said, the driver did not comply with officers’ requests. Video showed him shouting, raising his arms and gesticulating wildly. He then got back into the car to continue northbound on Western, Stevens said, driving at a speed of just 5 to 10 miles per hour.
The driver then steered the SUV onto the eastbound 10 Freeway, Stevens said, at around 20 mph.
Eventually, California Highway Patrol officers disabled the car by conducting a successful PIT maneuver just west of the 110 Freeway, near downtown Los Angeles.
After the Mercedes swung around and law enforcement vehicles surrounded it, the driver stepped out with his hands up — only to swiftly step back inside.
Video of the incident showed the officers approaching the vehicle. One smashed in the front passenger window while others approached the driver‘s side door and dragged him out. After holding him down on the ground, they handcuffed him and took him into custody.
Gutierrez was booked about 8 a.m. Friday at the Inmate Reception Center in downtown L.A., Stevens said.
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