Chase Suspect Tries Switcheroo On Cops

LONG BEACH, CA — Authorities chased a driver in a reported stolen car Thursday from Long Beach to San Pedro, where the man ran into a neighborhood and was taken into custody after attempting to switch places with another man to avoid being caught.

The chase began about 6 a.m. and went from the 91 Freeway to the southbound 710 Freeway, and then onto westbound Ocean Boulevard and into San Pedro.

Officers tried to stop the car, but it sped off, eventually heading to the southbound Long Beach (710) Freeway and onto westbound Ocean Boulevard and into San Pedro.

Along the way, police tried to spin out the car on a surface street, but it kept going, eventually circling around in a neighborhood before it stopped about 6:40 a.m. and the driver got out and ran into a residence in the 700 block of West First Street.

About 20 minutes later, a man thought to have been the suspect came out of the residence and surrendered to police, who took him into custody for questioning. Meanwhile, the real suspect was still hiding from police.

"Officers believe the residence is known to the suspect; however the exact nature is currently unknown," De Prez said in a statement about 9 a.m., while the suspect was still hiding from officers.

A canine team was sent to the scene, and police found the suspect hiding inside the residence at 10:35 a.m. His name was not immediately released. A woman was taken into custody for questioning, and may face a charge of "aiding and abetting," De Prez said.

City News Service contributed to this post