Attempted Kidnapping Ends in Freeway Standoff in Alhambra

Los Angeles Times ^ | June 7, 2005 | By Jesus Sanchez

[RLM]

I-10 closed after pursuit that started in Ventura County ended in Alhambra

[RLM]

Once again someone that can't behave himself brings a freeway to a complete halt, inconveniencing thousands of motorists, and affecting the entire San Gabriel Valley. To the credit of the CHP an officer managed to spin the errant vehicle off the freeway into a block wall, bringing the pursuit to a halt. Beyond that, I think we need to rethink the entire matter of pursuits. While the CHP officer did the right thing, he, or another police agency, should have performed the maneuver 3 hours earlier. I think anyone that flees the police should assume his life is at risk and that the law enforcement officers will have no patience for prolonging the pursuit, putting other lives at risk. After the pursuit ends, matters got worse when the LA Sheriff closes the entire I-10 freeway for 3 to 4 hours, ostensibly for an investigation. How dumb are these guys? How long does it take to determine the guy was fleeing the cops and, as a consequence, the police took an action that disabled his vehicle, and resulted in his capture. The investigation, coupled with a later review of news video back at the office, should take about 5 minutes. Then clear the wreckage and open the freeway so thousands of people are not further inconvenienced. Frankly I think law enforcement in California has become much to anxious to close roads and freeways, causing great inconvenience when their objective should be to get the evidence they need quickly, then open the highway so everyone can get back to business. I'm sensitive to this since the LA Sheriff closed access to my home when a brush fire was burning in the opposite direction 3 miles away. When I asked the deputy blocking the road who ordered the closure he said it was the fire department. I called the fire department and they denied closing the road. The CHP also denied closing the road. Then after calling the local station commander, he admitted he had no idea who ordered the closure and immediately ordered the road to be opened, this after inconveniencing an entire neighborhood for over a day.

[Enterprise]

I didn't see where he displayed a gun and the officers opened fire, but I saw where they put the flash bang through the right rear window. After that the drivers side door opened and the nice doggy got to play for a while.

[Theresawithanh]

I saw this on Fox. What a maroon! Bet the LA drivers wish the cops had tried that maneuver hours earlier!

Did this remind anyone else of O.J. Simpson's freeway escapade?

[ElkGroveDan]

The investigation, coupled with a later review of news video back at the office, should take about 5 minutes.

I agree with your frustration, but my guess is that the cops were measuring skids and every other shred of evidence from the scene to protect themselves. You just know that the perp will have a lawyer before the sun goes down who will be looking for a way to sue the cops and claim some kind of damages.

[ErnBatavia]

I liked a couple of the ideas e-mailed to Shepard Smith while this was going on....why not drive up an "armored" tow truck and just clear him out?....or why not bring in a Chinook helichopter to clamp onto the van,lift it and carry it to an enclosed secure lot, and just let him sit there?

Both would have cleared the freeway a lot quicker.

[Recovering Ex-hippie]

Yeah..OJ Dejavu!

Good doggie. Nice doggie. By the way,that doggie is an officer and you better not hurt him! My dog is so proud that one of her Canine kindred spirits helped out!

[eyespysomething]

The worst thing today was Fox News had on an English gentleman who was discussing Blair, and the EU et al and they cut him off for a news alert, and it was this stupid chase and standoff. Sheesh. I bet that guy never comes back on Fox News.

[al baby]

Did this remind anyone else of O.J. Simpson's freeway escapade?


You must not live in so. cal this type of thing happens all the time they should have shot the sob and moped it up fast the cost to the econmy and the wasted time was crazy

[Theresawithanh]

I live in the SF Bay Area. No offense, but I would not like living in the LA area.

I didn't know that this happened all the time. I agree with you that the cops should have wrapped this up much sooner, don't know why they didn't try the spikes earlier or to ram the car. A couple million angry commuters would have appreciated it.

[Enterprise]

They need to turn the pursuits over to these guys.

[hole_n_one]

You cite an LA Times article as the "source" for this post yet all you provided in the body, where the full or excerpted text of the article belongs, was your whining.

Now, go tell a mod to move this drivel to chat where it belongs.

[catonsville]

My wife says the dogs are trained for this in two ways. The dog is ordered to bite the hell out of the guy until he gives up or just to drag him out of the car without injuring him.

That shepherd was enjoying every moment

[Bear_Slayer]

I used to drive the 57 to the 10 to get home. I started taking the backroads behind the pomona fairgrounds - Foothill blvd - I think.

Those freeways are packed on a good day. I can't imagine closed for 3 - 4 hours.

[al baby]

I dont much like it either but what ya going to do
regard al baby

[backinthefold]

Did this remind anyone else of O.J. Simpson's freeway escapade?

 

I was wondering when WackoJacko was gonna run for the hills

[al baby]

Sorry lost the first part that I live in so. cal

[hole_n_one]

More accurately stated, the whining is in the comments section, while the one line "excerpt" in the body is bogus.

No matter how it's sliced, it's a vanity post.

[ErnBatavia]

"Hang on, Bubba!"

[ErnBatavia]

I started taking the backroads behind the pomona fairgrounds - Foothill blvd - I think.

Foothill it is! Before we moved from Santa Clarita out here to the Coachella Valley, we had to fight that crap on Friday nights to do the weekends out here in paradise...we'd always bail on the 10 through that area and take Foothill as far east as we could, usually to Euclid.

Now, I understand, the 210 runs all the way from Sylmar east to the 15 giving a tiny alternative to that bloodsucking 10 freeway.