Los Angeles

Driver in Custody After Leading LAPD on Lengthy, Slow-Speed Pursuit Through Mid City

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The Los Angeles Police Department chased a silver vehicle through the Mid City area of Los Angeles in a slow-speed pursuit that continued for over an hour and a half Friday night.

The pursuit began after police at the LAPD's Wilshire division received reports of a suspect pointing a gun at someone.

The driver of the silver four-door vehicle was traveling at about 5 to 15 miles per hour, often getting out of his vehicles and making erratic hand gestures at police officers.

It seemed that the driver remained in areas familiar to them, coming back to South La Brea Avenue and circling Mid City neighborhoods several times.

Police deployed spike strips to try and stop the driver.

At about 12:30 a.m. the front right wheel of the vehicle was falling off, but the driver kept going.

No collisions occurred during the pursuit.

The driver finally came to a stop around 12:50 a.m., but refused to surrender.

A SWAT team came in to assist in the arrest, the LAPD said. Rubber bullets, a "less lethal method" than firearms, were fired at the suspect "multiple times."

The suspect was eventually taken into custody around 1:20 a.m. or 1:30 a.m. on charges of felony evasion and a number of traffic violations, the LAPD said.

The driver's name has not yet been released by the LAPD

Police did not recover a gun from the suspect or vehicle, they said. According to the LAPD, it's possible the gun was thrown out of the car window at some point during the chase.

The victim who had the gun pointed at them was not injured, and no rounds were fired at them, police said.

According to police, "frustrated community members" vandalized the suspect's car. None of those individuals are currently in custody, and the LAPD is contemplating if any fines or arrests will take place over the vandalism.

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