CA: Erratic Hollywood police pursuit unfolds

Bakersfield Californian ^ | 6/22/05 | AP - Los Angeles

[NormsRevenge]

LOS ANGELES (AP) - An erratic, slow-speed police pursuit near some of Hollywood's most famous landmarks captivated hundreds of tourists, many of whom snapped photos as the scene unfolded.

The chase began shortly after 8 p.m. Tuesday on Interstate 405 when police identified the female driver as a possible suspect on drug charges and tried to pull her over, said Officer Kristi Sandoval, a police spokeswoman.

The driver fled north and was eventually cornered by at least a dozen squad cars in Hollywood about an hour later, Sandoval said.

As bewildered tourists looked on, the woman began making erratic, slow-speed U-turns in an attempt to avoid patrol cars that had hemmed her in. The site, at the intersection of Hollywood Boulevard and Highland Avenue, is near such landmarks as Grauman's Chinese Theater and the new Kodak Theater.

At one point, aerial TV footage showed the suspect's car backing into a patrol car, turning and then accelerating to sideswipe a second patrol car while narrowly missing a third one.

Police said the driver was knocked out by a sideview mirror that snapped off and hit her in the head during one such collision. Television footage showed police pulling a bloodied woman from the car's driver seat after a female passenger surrendered.

The driver, 34-year-old Charlotte Noga, was booked on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon on an officer, said Sgt. Michael Diaz, another police spokesman. The passenger, Noga's teenage daughter, was arrested on an outstanding juvenile narcotics warrant, he said.

No shots were fired during the pursuit, Sandoval said.

[the gillman@blacklagoon.com]

I say skin her and make a sofa out of her hide.

[petercooper]

[HKMk23]

"Jackass" will feature the pursuit in it's entirety.

[stylecouncilor]

I missed this one on TV :(

[BurbankKarl]

BurbankKarl watched this video on KCBS 2 and wanted you to watch it!

Head to http://kcbs.dayport.com/launcher/7387/?tf=KCALvideo_player.tpl to check it out.

[stylecouncilor]

Thanks, BurbankKarl. I always enjoy your posts.

[Maven]

As bewildered tourists looked on, the woman began making erratic, slow-speed U-turns in an attempt to avoid patrol cars that had hemmed her in. The site, at the intersection of Hollywood Boulevard and Highland Avenue, is near such landmarks as Grauman's Chinese Theater and the new Kodak Theater.

How were they able to tell this apart from the normal driving habits in that area?

Maven