Driver in custody after officers chase stolen Toyota through San Gabriel Valley
WEST COVINA, Calif. (KABC) -- The driver of a stolen Toyota Camry led police on a wild and dangerous chase through the streets of the San Gabriel Valley Wednesday night.
The pursuit started around 8:30 p.m. when officers tried to pull over the reported-stolen vehicle in West Covina. The driver took off, staying on surface streets but driving wildly at times, making erratic left turns through red lights and swerving across lanes in efforts to get away.
Officers tried several times to approach the vehicle closely in apparent efforts to make a PIT maneuver but each time the car sped up and the attempt was not made.
WATCH: Chase ends in West Covina with driver in custody
One attempt made contact and forced the vehicle to swerve slightly but it kept going.
After close to an hour, the suspect finally came to a stop in West Covina and was partially pinned in by two patrol vehicles.
He appeared to be talking on a cellphone for some time, possibly with the camera on, before he emerged from the vehicle and surrendered.
It also appeared that a camera crew was riding with officers during the chase. A cameraman and a microphone operator emerged from the patrol vehicles and were allowed to record from just feet away as police negotiated the suspect's surrender. It was not immediately clear which outlet or program they were with.
