Carjacking Suspect Leads Seal Beach Police On 'Erratic' Chase

SEAL BEACH, CA — A Long Beach man was arrested on multiple felony warrants when a traffic stop ended in a high-speed chase and attempted carjacking in the City of Seal Beach, authorities said Tuesday.

The driver leading the chase, identified as 40-year-old Mesrob Mesrobian, was booked into Orange County jail after the chase on several charges, including: Felony Evading Arrest, Attempted Carjacking and Resisting Arrest, according to the Seal Beach Police Department.

In addition, Mesrobian has two felony warrants including: Battery Great Bodily Injury and Evading.

According to SBPD Lieutenant Julia Clasby, the chase began when an officer attempted to conduct a traffic stop on a car without license plates on Monday, March 10 at 9:02 p.m. at the intersection of Seal Beach Boulevard and Westminster Avenue.

The driver behind the wheel of the black Honda Accord did not yield and bolted eastbound on Westminster Avenue, triggering a chase.

The pursuit included "erratic" driving, police said. Mesrobian reportedly made sudden U-turns and "numerous evasive and reckless maneuvers" in an attempt to thwart police.

He led police to the Interstate 5 Freeway, where the pursuit was turned over to the California Highway Patrol and later canceled completely.

"Due to the driver's erratic and dangerous driving, officers made the decision to terminate the pursuit near Interstate 5, south of the Indiana Street exit, in the City of Commerce," Clasby said.

Later that night, Mesrobian's care apparently failed him in the center lane of the 5 Freeway, just south of the State Route 2 interchange in Elysian Valley.

The driver fled the car on foot and tried to carjack a vehicle on the freeway, police said. He was ultimately identified by Seal Beach Police Officers and booked.

"The Seal Beach Police Department remains committed to keeping our community safe and holding offenders accountable," Chief Michael Henderson said in a statement. "The arrest was the result of coordinated efforts between our officers and our law enforcement partners."

Anyone with additional information is encouraged to contact the Seal Beach Police Department at (562) 799-4100.