UPDATE: Man Sought in Search After Crash Is Arrested at PCH Home

A driver wanted for careening a stolen van into Malibu Canyon after a traffic stop Friday was in custody today, facing possible criminal charges.

Michael Kheop, 44, who scrambled away from the wreckage and disappeared into the chaparral about 1:45 p.m. Friday was picked up several miles away at his home in the 22000 block of Pacific Coast Highway around 11:30 p.m., sheriff's Lt. Josh Thai at the Malibu/Lost Hills station said.

Kheop was taken to a hospital to be checked out and was expected to be booked on suspicion of trying to murder his wife and driving a vehicle without the owner's consent, Thai said.

Kheop's wife got out of the van uninjured as it rolled off the side of the canyon road from a turnout, plunging at least 150 feet through the brush just south of Malibu Crest Drive. She told authorities that Kheop was unarmed, and that he was on probation and had no driver's license, KABC-TV reported.

The ensuing search, which included a helicopter and tracking dogs, kept northbound Malibu Canyon Road closed for hours, and nearby Malibu City Hall was temporarily locked down.

The trouble started when a deputy, northbound on Malibu Canyon Road, was alerted to a dark gray Chrysler Town & Country, which was headed south, by a license plate scanner that showed it had been reported stolen in Inglewood, deputies said. The deputy made a U-turn and pulled over Kheop, who stopped at a turnout near the canyon mouth. Back-up deputies arrived, and the pair were ordered out.

Deputies said the two people inside did not immediately comply, then the van started moving forward. About that time, the woman bailed out, and the van cut a swath through the brush down a steep grade, coming to rest at least 150 feet off the road.

The driver was able to get out of the vehicle in the heavy brush and sheriff's officials soon began a search for him from the air and ground. The search continued as dusk fell in Malibu, and bloodhounds were called to help in the search, Shrout said.

"We had dogs that were called in to track him and they didn’t catch a scent," Shrout said as the search was being called off for the night.

"It will be turned over to our detectives."

Dozens of law enforcement officers were involved in the search for the man, who was described as an African American male in his 40s with a shaved head and wearing a blue shirt.

“He is a suspect to a certain extent. We’re trying to sort things out. He obviously ran away from us for a reason,” said sheriff's Lt. Thai.

Malibu Canyon Road was closed in both directions between Civic Center Road and Piuma Road for several hours.

Malibu City Manager Jim Thorsen said the doors to City Hall were locked during part of the search.

"At this point in time we are keeping everything on lock down per the advice of the sheriff’s department," Thorsen said just after 3 p.m. Friday.

About 20 to 30 employees were inside because Fridays are usually half days, Thorsen said.

The lock down was lifted just after 4 p.m. and employees were asked not to loiter in the parking lot, according to Olivia Damavandi, Malibu's media information officer.

Valerie Titus of The Godmother of Malibu, which is nearby, said that her business remained open, but she was concerned about the manhunt.

"We’re looking out for the guy and kind of a little bit concerned if they don’t find him, where he is going to be camping out tonight," Titus said.

She added that this type of activity is unusual for Malibu.

"We’ve had customers who are eating lunch and wondering what is going on," Titus said.