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Dramatic police chase involving stolen big rig
Two men are in custody -- but not before leading a dramatic police chase in a suspected stolen big rig.
LOS ANGELES - Two people are in custody following a police chase of a suspected stolen big rig cab in Southern California on Wednesday.
Timeline:
The chase began in Fontana around 9:30 a.m. when an officer realized the truck's license plate did not match the vehicle. The officer attempted a traffic stop, but the driver fled, eventually heading south on the 57 Freeway into Orange County.
By 10:30 a.m. the semi appeared to get back onto the westbound 91 Freeway near Anaheim Boulevard.
Just six minutes later, the big rig got off the freeway and was near W. Commonwealth Ave. and S. Vermont Ave. traveling along surface streets.
The suspect came to a complete stop shortly afterward and apparently tossed a water bottle out of the driver's side window before starting back up again.
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Pursuit suspect tosses object out
During a morning pursuit, the pursuit suspect threw an object out the reported stolen vehicle.
By 10:45 a.m. the big rig was traveling near Knott Ave. and Orangethorpe Ave. in Buena Park.
The big rig got back onto the 91 Freeway and was headed eastbound in Garden Grove.
Just before 11 a.m. the semi got back onto the freeway, this time traveling northbound on the 5 Freeway in West Anaheim.
Shortly afterward, an armored police vehicle unsuccessfully tried to perform a PIT maneuver on the big rig cab.
The suspect continued driving in the Buena Park area.
Just after 11 a.m., the big rig reached the intersection of Beach Boulevard and Franklin Street and came to a stop after it was boxed in by the armored vehicle and a patrol SUV.
The driver and passenger exited the vehicle and surrendered to police.
Dig deeper:
The suspects are convicted felons and are being held at West Valley Detention Center. Their charges include felony evading, grand theft auto and possession of stolen property.
The driver was identified as 54-year-old Bill Fayed from Buena Park and the passenger was identified as 42-year-old Carlos Mesta from Rancho Cucamonga.
The Fontana Police Department said the plate was stolen from another truck in Anaheim two days ago from a company called Ryder Logistics.
Investigators said during the chase, a woman called Fontana PD saying her father was being held inside.
"And that the passenger told this female that the driver was not allowing this person to get out of the truck, and all they wanted to do was get out. So we just had a ticket with, you know, as the grain of salt and possibly consider that this car could be a kidnapping. So because of that, we made a decision not to give it up to the Highway Patrol and to stay with the pursuit to the very end," said Officer Daniel Romero with the Fontana Police Department.
The Source: Information for this story is from the California Highway Patrol and Fontana Police Department.