Suspect Steals Police Cruiser, Leads Officers on Wild 8-Mile Chase Through Pasadena

An armed man threatening to kill people at In N Out Burgers confronted responding police, commandeered a police car and led officers on a 12-minute chase through the city before the cruiser he stole was rammed and he was taken into custody, Pasadena police said.

At about 9:47 pm, Pasadena Police responded to In N Out Burgers located in the 2100 block of E. Foothill Blvd regarding a report of a man, 40-50 years old, who was reportedly blocking the driveway and threatening to shoot people.

Officers located the suspect several blocks away at a business in the 2200 block of E. Foothill Blvd.

Police said when officers approached the suspect, he suspect struck a police car with a metal cylindrical object. Officers confronted the armed suspect and ordered the suspect to drop the his weapons and he refused.

One officer deployed a less lethal weapon, which had minimal affect, police said.

Pasadena Police Lt. John Luna said that as the confrontation unfolded the suspect managed to commandeer a police car and fled.

Officers pursued the suspect on surface streets traversing through Pasadena for a distance of approximately eight miles and for duration of approximately 12 minutes.

The only police units involved in the pursuit were Pasadena Police.

“At the intersection of Lake Avenue and Claremont Street, a pursuit intervention occurred where a police unit deliberately impacted the stolen police car terminating the vehicle pursuit,” Lunas said in a statement.

The suspect escaped from the police car through the driver window and climbed on top of the police car.

Officers deployed less-lethal weapons and the suspect was struck by a Taser. The suspect jumped off of the roof of the police car and landed on his feet, at which point, he was taken into custody.

The suspect was transported to a local hospital for treatment. The suspect is in stable condition and his injuries do not appear to be life threatening.

Luna said the suspect is facing charges of assault with a deadly weapon, criminal threats, grand theft auto, felony vandalism, and felony evading.

The victims reported no injuries and Police Personnel reported no injuries.