Man with knife runs across 5 Freeway in East LA after chase ends

EAST LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- A man with a knife ran across lanes of the busy 5 Freeway in East Los Angeles Tuesday evening as he tried desperately to escape capture from law enforcement.

Aerial footage from AIR7 HD showed the suspect jump over the freeway median and run into oncoming traffic, causing confusion for stunned drivers. At times, it appeared the suspect tried to carjack other drivers as he ran down the freeway.

Authorities tried to apprehend the man, chasing him by foot and in patrol vehicles. One officer was seen in the back of a pickup truck trying to catch up to the suspect.

An arrest wasn't made until minutes later when two law enforcement officers cornered the man and used a Taser to shock him. The suspect was quickly subdued and taken into custody.

The incident happened just before 9 p.m. near Atlantic Boulevard on the 5 Freeway.

Authorities say L.A. County sheriff's deputies were initially in pursuit of the man when the chase ended on the 5 Freeway. The suspect stopped his car and got out with what appeared to be a large kitchen knife and began fleeing.

The L.A. County Sheriff's Department and the California Highway Patrol were involved in making the arrest.