Dangerous pursuit in San Fernando Valley ends with shooting on 5 freeway
LOS ANGELES, Calif. (FOX 11) - --UPDATE--
The suspect stopped on the 5 freeway in the Burbank area after driving the wrong way on the northbound lanes.
All nearby motorists were evacuated from their cars as the suspect stayed inside his vehicle.
A SigAlert was issued by CHP shortly after 9 p.m. blocking all northbound and southbound lanes on the 5 freeway south of Buena Vista Street in the Burbank area where the suspect engaged in a standoff with authorities.
The suspect was later identified by police as 29-year-old Drew Allen Smith.
Shortly after 10 p.m., the suspect exited his vehicle with what appeared to be a weapon in hand but seemed to toss it away as he laid on the ground. At one point, the male suspect got up and tried running away from officers who fired less-lethal rounds and quickly pounced on him and took him into custody.
It's unknown when the freeway will reopen.
LAPD spokesman Josh Rubenstein said officers received a report of a man with a knife driving erratic in a blue sedan in the Sunland-Tujunga area and hitting several cars at about 7:30 p.m. Friday. A chase began shortly after police tried pulling the suspect over.
The suspect rammed into several police vehicles at different times before entering the northbound side of the 5 freeway driving in the wrong direction and hitting several cars along the way before ramming into a CHP blockage where an officer-involved shooting occurred, Rubenstein said.
Rubenstein added that authorities believe the suspect had used a knife to cut himself as he was driving and during the standoff. The suspect was transported to the hospital. His condition is unknown.
The investigation is ongoing.
EARLIER
Los Angeles police are in pursuit of a reckless and dangerous driver who has already been seen backing up and ramming police vehicles several times.
The pursuit appears to have started in the Sunland-Tujunga area of the San Fernando Valley at about 8 p.m. Friday.
Police believe the suspect is armed with a knife and are proceeding with caution.