Burglary suspect dies after chase, crash in Long Beach; chaos unfolds

LONG BEACH, Calif. (KABC) -- A police chase came to a deadly and chaotic end in Long Beach after the suspect crashed and was ejected from a car, and distraught friends and family flocked to the scene to learn of his death.

Deputies began chasing the suspect around 5 a.m. Tuesday in Bellflower on suspicion of burglary. Officials said he fled at speeds approaching 100 mph on the freeway before exiting in Long Beach.

The burglary suspect, driving a white four-door sedan, then struck a white SUV and sheared a fire hydrant before colliding with a sheriff's cruiser at the intersection of Long Beach Boulevard and Victoria Street, just north of the 710 Freeway, police said.

His body was ejected from the vehicle. Deputies say they initially approached the car after the crash and shot out the rear windows with stunbags out of concern that other suspects were in the vehicle. They then approached the driver and determined he had died.

Following the crash, a heated scene unfolded after friends and relatives of the deceased suspect arrived at the location.

Officers were seen using a Taser on a man, believed to be the suspect's brother, after he crossed the yellow police tape.

"That was his brother," said Tarayne Rolison, who identified himself as a family member. "He was concerned because we had just lost his grandmother about a month ago and we lost his father about three months ago. So there's a lot of emotions going on."

Authorities said two men were detained by police and sheriff's deputies for allegedly defying orders to remain behind police tape that surrounded the crash site.

The occupant of the SUV suffered minor injuries.

Long Beach Boulevard was closed between Harcourt and Ellis streets as an investigation got underway, the Long Beach Police Department said.