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Wild Car Chase Ends With Suspect Shooting at Police Dog (And Getting Arrested)
Image by DimkaSL via Shutterstock
A wild car chase last night found California Highway Patrol and LAPD officers pursuing a man and a woman as they drove from Diamond Bar to South Los Angeles in a stolen car, and with one of the suspects allegedly firing shots at a police dog, according to City News Service.22-year-old Jose Pedro Salazar and his passenger, 19-year-old Leisa Ochoa, fled from a CHP officer who had attempted to pull the driver over on the 60 Freeway just after 6 p.m. Monday because the vehicle was in the carpool lane and appeared to only have one occupant. A license plate check revealed the vehicle was stolen.
The chase's ultimate route covered a broad expanse of L.A. freeways, from the 60 to the 57 north, the 210 west, the 605 south, the 10 west, and the 101 west, until Salazar exited in Echo Park, where the Los Angeles Police Department took up the pursuit. While on the freeway, the fleeing driver clocked speeds of 90 mph, and one attempt at the PIT maneuver was unsuccessful.
Once on the streets, Salazar drove through alleys, and ran several red lights. At around 8:30 p.m. the drive crashed the car in South Los Angeles, and he and Ochoa exited the vehicle running in opposite directions and led LAPD officers on a foot pursuit.
The LAPD formed a perimeter and conducted a search for the suspects. Salazar was found hiding in a shed by a police dog. He allegedly fired several rounds at the dog, but did not hit him; Salazar later told authorities he had faced police dogs before and did not want to be bitten.
Ultimately, Salazar was arrested, as was Ochoa at another location.
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