Robbery suspect in custody after leading deputies on high-speed chase in Torrance area

David González Image
Tuesday, April 30, 2024
Robbery suspect arrested after high-speed chase in Torrance area
A robbery suspect was taken into custody Tuesday morning after leading Los Angeles County sheriff's deputies on a dangerous, high-speed chase in the South Bay.

GARDENA, Calif. (KABC) -- A possible murder suspect was taken into custody Tuesday morning after leading sheriff's deputies on a dangerous, high-speed chase in the South Bay.



AIR7 HD was above the pursuit and captured the suspect going at least 90 mph at one point on the 405 Freeway in the Torrance/Carson area.



The suspect bailed out of the vehicle - while it was still moving - near Western Avenue and 190th Street in the Gardena area.



In aerial footage, you can see the suspect rolling on the ground then getting back up before walking toward a Sky Zone trampoline park business as the car crashes into a pole.



That's where deputies focused on their search.



Authorities and helicopters lost sight of the suspect but some witnesses told deputies he may have run into the Sky Zone business.



Martin Ngo was inside Sky Zone with nine students from a local college celebrating the end of their film and television class.



"I could not have expected this," Ngo said. "What an end to a final. We don't have a formal final so our final meeting we thought it would be fun to go to Sky Zone together."



The group was told to evacuate as law enforcement members searched for the suspect.



"There weren't any police rushing in," Ngo said. "It was more or less kind of calm at first but then as we saw more cars from officers show up we said, 'Ok, it's probably good to pick up the pace and get to a safe spot.'"



The suspect was found hiding in bushes outside of the building and was taken into custody shortly after.



LA County Sheriff Robert Luna watched the pursuit unfold from ABC7's studio.



"In this case they were very effective. They ended up apprehending a very dangerous person, who was wanted at least we know preliminarily for robbery and possibly murder," Luna said.



The sheriff's department searched the suspect's vehicle and surrounding area for evidence.



No one was hurt.



Ngo said, "We're teaching about film and stuff and some of the genres. Sometimes reality TV gets a little real."



Copyright © 2024 KABC Television, LLC. All rights reserved.