By Shawn Henry 
A suspected car thief was arrested early Friday after leading Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputies on a chaotic pursuit through the Los Angeles River basin, driving at high speed with the vehicle’s hood flipped up and blocking the windshield before crashing and attempting to flee on foot.
Deputies began the chase around 2 a.m. in the Compton area after spotting a vehicle reported stolen, authorities said. It was not immediately clear where the pursuit first began. As deputies followed, the suspect drove into the concrete L.A. River wash near the 710 Freeway and Florence Avenue.
Video from the scene showed the vehicle traveling at a high rate of speed through the riverbed with the hood fully raised, obscuring most of the driver’s forward view. Despite the severely limited visibility, the suspect continued through the basin before losing control. The vehicle spun out inside the riverbed and came to a stop.
After the crash, the suspect exited the disabled vehicle and ran toward a grassy area near Rosemead Boulevard. Deputies quickly established a containment perimeter in the area. The suspect was located and taken into custody a short time later.
Authorities reported no injuries as a result of the pursuit or crash. Information about the suspect’s identity and potential charges was not immediately released. The investigation remains ongoing as deputies review the circumstances surrounding the stolen vehicle and the events leading up to the pursuit.
Eve Nowell