Man Taken Into Custody in Pasadena After Leading CHP On Pursuit in Stolen Van

A man was taken into custody in Pasadena Wednesday after leading officers on a pursuit in a commercial van reported stolen from the parking lot of a Torrance convenience store.

California Highway Patrol units began pursuing the van at about 3:25 p.m., with several news helicopters following overhead.

The driver led the CHP through the South Los Angeles and downtown areas, at one point driving the utility van onto a sidewalk to avoid traffic and narrowly missing a pedestrian before continuing onto the northbound Harbor (110) Freeway to Pasadena.

Once in Pasadena, the man exited the freeway and seemed to obey traffic signals on surface streets. A CHP officer attempted a PIT maneuver on the van, but the driver maintained control of the vehicle and entered the eastbound Foothill (210) Freeway.

The driver, who was not immediately identified, lost control of the van while on the freeway and mounted the shoulder curb, knocking down two signs before crashing into a guardrail at about 4:05 p.m. He surrendered shortly afterward.