Several suspects in custody after slow-speed police chase through LA

LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- A chase suspect and two passengers were taken into custody Friday afternoon after a nearly two-hour pursuit across Los Angeles.

The chase involving a gray Ford Focus began sometime around 4 p.m. and ended shortly before 6 p.m. in the Pico-Union area.

At one point during the chase, two passengers got out of the car but were later taken into custody, authorities said.

The driver, a reported armed robbery suspect, stopped the car several times throughout the pursuit with at least five police cruisers following closely behind. Eventually, two more units joined as an LAPD helicopter followed from above.

It mostly remained a slow-speed chase, with the suspect encountering some heavy traffic, stopping at red lights, and allowing pedestrians to cross the street.

Crowds of onlookers gathered on street corners, recording the suspect with their cellphones as he drove by.

After heading southbound on Broadway Boulevard for several miles through west L.A., into downtown, and into southeast L.A., the driver eventually made a U-turn and headed northbound before venturing off to other surface streets. The suspect passed every opportunity to get on the freeway.

After nearly an hour, the chase moved into south L.A. From there, the slow-speed chase continued on surface streets, with the driver mostly obeying traffic laws. After about two hours, the chase finally came to an end in the Pico-Union area.

Officers approached the vehicle with weapons drawn, pounding on the door, trying to get the suspect to come out.

Eventually, the driver was taken into custody.

Details on the alleged armed robbery weren't immediately available.