Around 3 a.m. Saturday, deputies received notice that a Los Angeles Police Department officer witnessed a catalytic converter theft and began tailing the suspect’s silver Honda Odyssey, according to Deputy Natalie Arriaga, spokesperson with the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station.
BREAKING: A patrol car slammed into a mini-van during a pursuit of grand theft suspects.
The incident began shortly after 3 a.m. when deputies located a mini-van connected to a catalytic converter theft traveling southbound on Interstate 5 approaching Lyons Avenue. pic.twitter.com/qmXZfeRrHe
— Austin Dave (@AustinDave_) April 9, 2022
Deputies patrolling the Newhall area located the vehicle and attempted to conduct a traffic stop, however the driver of the Honda Odyssey proceeded to evade deputies, leading to a brief pursuit, according to Arriaga.
“Due to the suspected vehicle’s erratic driving, the pursuit was quickly terminated,” Arriaga said. “Less than a minute later, deputies were requested for assistance by an officer with Burbank PD who was in the area and had observed a reported stolen vehicle, unrelated to the previous incident.”
The patrol vehicle – assisting the Burbank Police Department with the stolen vehicle suspect – was caught in the cross hairs of the previous suspect’s erratic driving and t-boned the minivan full of grand theft suspects.
During the crash on the intersection of Lyons Avenue and the northbound 5 Freeway on and off ramps, at least three suspects footbailed from the vehicle, running in various directions, according to witnesses.
While it remains unclear exactly how many suspects were involved, two suspects were seen being arrested at gunpoint on-scene outside the 76 fuel station and another was detained at gunpoint in a backyard on Vista Ridge Drive in Valencia after seeking refuge in a tree, according to witnesses.
Photo Courtesy of Austin Dave
“All three suspects were transported to a local hospital for medical evaluation, two of which sustained moderate injuries,” Arriaga said. “As a precaution the deputy was transported as well.”
Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station deputies recovered several catalytic converters as well as tools commonly used for car part theft from inside the Honda Odyssey, according to Arriaga.
“The investigation remains ongoing,” Arriaga said. “However, we are happy to report our deputy is doing fine and has since been released from the hospital.”
Ed. Note: This is a developing story, more information will be added as it becomes available.
Do you have a news tip? Call us at (661) 298-1220, or send an email to news@hometownstation.com. Don’t miss a thing. Get breaking KHTS Santa Clarita News Alerts delivered right to your inbox. Report a typo or error, email Corrections@hometownstation.com
KHTS FM 98.1 and AM 1220 is Santa Clarita’s only local radio station. KHTS mixes in a combination of news, traffic, sports, and features along with your favorite adult contemporary hits. Santa Clarita news and features are delivered throughout the day over our airwaves, on our website and through a variety of social media platforms. Our KHTS national award-winning daily news briefs are now read daily by 34,000+ residents. A vibrant member of the Santa Clarita community, the KHTS broadcast signal reaches all of the Santa Clarita Valley and parts of the high desert communities located in the Antelope Valley. The station streams its talk shows over the web, reaching a potentially worldwide audience. Follow @KHTSRadio on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
