The driver of a stolen big rig is in custody after evading law enforcement officers across three counties for nearly 13 hours.
The prolonged chase began in East Los Angeles around 8 p.m. Wednesday, following reports of a stolen semi-truck.
For eight hours the unidentified driver led police through the San Fernando Valley, Simi Valley, and back to L.A. before ultimately coming to a stop around 4 a.m. on southbound State Route 55 near John Wayne Airport, CHP said.
Southbound SR-55 was closed for hours at MacArthur Bouelvard, right by the 405, as the situation turned from a chase to a standoff situation. CHP ultimately called for a Santa Ana Police SWAT team to come in an assist in negotiations with the driver.
“We weren’t able to have him come out peacefully so we asked for assistance from the Santa Ana Police SWAT," CHP Officer Florentino Olivera told KNX. "Together we went up to the truck, talked to him and convinced him to come out."
After a nearly five-hour standoff SWAT officials were seen leading the suspect
away from the passenger side of the vehicle's cab around 8:35 a.m.
As of 10 a.m. Officials have confirmed to KNX that the northbound lanes of SR-55 are open and remaining cones are being removed from southbound lanes at MacArthur Boulevard.
Early Thursday morning CHP spokesman Patrick Kimball told City News Service that the chase finally came to an end after CHP successfully deployed spike strips that the vehicle ran over - resulting in punctures to several of the tractor-trailer's tires.
Kimball said the whole ordeal began at Fifth and Indiana Streets in East L.A., where the suspect allegedly stole the big rig from a food service lot. CBS L.A. is reporting that the rig was reported stolen by an employee of "Individual Food Service."