Carjacking Suspect In Manhattan Beach Wild Chase Was Known Gang Member: Police

REDONDO BEACH, CA -- The carjacking suspect who led police on a slow-speed chase through the beach cities, ending in Redondo Beach was identified by police as a known gang member.

The chase started in in South Gate after a carjacking that occurred about 8 a.m. at 68th Street and Central Avenue, in the unincorporated Florence area, according to the sheriff's department. Patrolling South Gate police officers saw the vehicle a short time later and began chasing it.

The man, later identified as 27-year-old Carlos Mercado, subsequently led officers on a slow-speed chase on streets in South Gate, South Los Angeles, Inglewood, Manhattan Beach and Hermosa Beach.

At points, the chase reached reckless levels with the suspect driving backward at a high speed while swerving to evade police. At one point, the driver evaded a spike strip. At times, bystanders were seen throwing items at the vehicle while others tried to block it.

The SUV -- which had a Lyft ride-hailing service decal on the windshield -- was forced to stop about 9:40 a.m. by officers who used a PIT maneuver that left the vehicle wedged against a curb on Pacific Coast Highway near Palos Verdes Boulevard in Redondo Beach.

Officers boxed in the SUV with their patrol cars and pointed weapons at the vehicle, and the standoff began. A sheriff's SWAT team then arrived at the scene and its heavily armored vehicles drove up against the SUV.

Mercado, who was described by police as a known gang member from Whittier, surrendered about 11:10 a.m. without further incident.

A man who identified himself as the driver's brother and said his sibling was mentally unstable was in contact with authorities during the standoff, according to broadcast reports.

Mercado was taken to a hospital for a medical evaluation and once cleared was booked on suspicion of carjacking and felony evading, the sheriff's department reported.

Mercado was jailed in lieu of $100,000 bail, according to sheriff's inmate records.

Some nearby homes were evacuated while the standoff was underway, officials said.

Patch editor Paige Austin and City News Service Contributed to this report. Photo via Shutterstock