K-9 ends wild chase with suspect in stolen pickup truck from Fontana to Lynwood
LYNWOOD, Calif. (KABC) -- A long chase that stretched from Fontana to Los Angeles ended with a K-9 takedown on Friday afternoon. The alleged carjacking suspect into custody in Lynwood.
The white pickup truck was reported stolen from the China Cook restaurant in Fontana, according to authorities.
The suspect was seen at times driving on the wrong side of the road and in some congested streets. The suspect was also seen putting up what appeared to be hand signs as he drove erratically.
The chase started with Fontana police in pursuit as it quickly entered the 10 Freeway before going onto the 101 Freeway. Eventually, California Highway Patrol took over the pursuit as it entered the Los Angeles area.
At about 1:48 p.m., officers executed a PIT maneuver in the area of S. Boyle Avenue and E. 8th Street and tried to box in the pickup, but the suspect was able to get away.
Shortly before 2 p.m., the pursuit entered the southbound 5 Freeway in the East L.A. area. A few minutes later, the chase was on the southbound 710 Freeway.
The chase came to an end around 2:20 p.m. after the suspect exited the freeway and entered a residential neighborhood in Lynwood. The driver began to slow down, and a CHP officer was able to get ahead of him in time to attempt to deploy a spike strip.
The spike strip was unsuccessful, but the suspect slowing down allowed officers a chance to box him in at Wright Road and Fertile Street. He eventually got out of the pickup truck with his hands up, but began to jog away. That's when a K-9 was sent in and the man was taken into custody.
The suspect was later loaded into the back of an ambulance, likely due to injuries sustained from the K-9.
Eyewitness News spoke to a customer at China Cook who said he was about to have lunch when his truck was stolen.
"He asked if he could have a ride, and I said, 'No, I'm getting ready to go inside and get something to eat.' I turned around and started walking to the back of my truck. He came up behind me, grabbed the keys out of my hand, ran to the truck, got it open. I followed him -- followed him inside the truck. We struggled for probably 10 minutes, because I wasn't going to give up without a fight. He managed to get it started and get it into reverse and backed up. I thought he was going to hit the cars behind it. Then he managed to get it in drive, and we're still struggling," Ronald Knesil recalled. "He started to go so fast, I lost my footing, fell out of the truck, and he proceeded to go up and over the curb, and took out the sign and everything there. Headed that way, got out onto the street. I got to give it to the Fontana Police Department. They were right on top of it. Next thing I know, I'm watching my truck on TV getting chased."
Knesil got a few scratches and scrapes from the struggle with the suspect. His truck also sustained some damage due to the PIT maneuver, but Knesil said he's looking forward to getting it back.
