Suspect Jumps In Roadside Rollback To Begin Long Chase
02.02.2025 | 12:00 AM | SAN DIEGO – A pursuit of a tow truck stolen while it’s driver was assisting a motorist in Los Angeles spanned hours before ending in San Diego with the assistance of successful spike strip deployments, early Sunday morning.
The pursuit began when a suspect jumped in the driver’s seat of the tow truck as the truck’s driver was assisting a motorist with a tire change in Echo Park around 12:00 AM.
The tow truck driver attempted to remove the suspect from the truck but was unsuccessful, leaving him without a phone or radio to call for assistance.
As the suspect fled in the tow truck, the truck’s driver completed the tire change he had initiated and received a ride from the motorists he assisted to his tow yard.
From there the driver received assistance from one of his colleagues and began tracking a GPS in the tow truck in order to coordinate law enforcement.
Officers were able to locate the tow truck and initiated a pursuit that soon traveled southbound on the I-5 Freeway through Orange County and into San Diego reaching speeds of 90 MPH.
Several spike strips were successfully deployed leaving the tow truck without front tires and causing it to ultimately become disabled on the southbound I-805 Freeway at Market Street.
The suspect that stole the tow truck was apprehended without further incident.
There were no injuries as a result of the pursuit though one police vehicle sustained a cracked windshield from tire debris being kicked up by the fleeing tow truck.
