Wanted man arrested after officers spot him during their lunch break at Panda Express in Monrovia

MONROVIA, Calif. (KABC) -- A wanted man who escaped police twice by running onto a freeway was taken into custody after officers recognized him when he walked into a Panda Express in Monrovia where they were eating lunch, according to authorities.

Police said officers had previously tried to arrest the man wanted for a no-bail felony probation warrant on two different occasions while he was walking. The man fled and ran onto a freeway both times, eluding arrest.

After two unsuccessful attempts, the department says officers changed their approach.

Officers were taking a lunch break at a Panda Express on the 600 block of west Huntington Drive on July 17 when the man unexpectedly walked into the restaurant.

Officers recognized the man and arrested him. In a video posted to social media, the suspect is heard asking the officers, "What did I do?" to what one of the officers responds, "You've been wanted, you've been running from me for like a month".

The suspect, who was only identified as a male, was then taken into custody about a month after eluding police.

"At this point, we're not sure if it was good police work, bad timing, or the irresistible smell of chow mein," the department said in a social media post.

The post added that the officers returned to their meal after the arrest.

"Don't worry the officers went back for their food and finished their chow mein. Priorities," the post said.

Further information was not immediately available.