A package theft suspect who led police on a chase and then ran into a movie theater in South Gate was taken into custody Thursday after spending more than an hour inside the theater.
At 6:39 p.m., Arcadia police officers were dispatched to the 1600 block of Holly Avenue on a GPS package theft investigation. They tracked the package to a parking lot in Hacienda Heights and found the suspect, who then led officers on a pursuit.
The chase wound through surface streets and
The suspect drove the Ford to a parking structure at the El Paseo Shopping Center in South Gate about 7:50 p.m. and ran into the Edwards South Gate Stadium 20 & IMAX at 8630 Garfield Ave., which was quickly surrounded by officers.
The theater was evacuated as police searched for the man, who stayed inside the building for more than an hour. People who went to see "The Circle" say they saw the wanted man instead.
"He ran in, he caught the corner of my eye," said Maria Colon. "He sat down way in the corner and I figured he was trying to get a free movie."
Christopher Cook, 27, of La Mirada, was taken into custody on charges of felony evading and grand theft auto, police said.
