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LOS ANGELES () — A dirt bike rider led Los Angeles police on a dangerous chase Wednesday evening, at times going off road and making erratic maneuvers before being taken into custody.
AIR7 was over the chase at about 6:10 p.m. as the suspect fled on surface streets in the Watts area. Police said the suspect may have been armed but later confirmed no gun was recovered.
During the pursuit, the rider was seen using a cellphone and stopped at a gas station before driving away with the gas pump hose still attached to the bike.
The rider weaved through alleyways and clipped through cars while not wearing a helmet.
The suspect later went off road and cut through a park. The rider then stopped at Athens Park, where he grabbed a jug of gasoline that had been left behind and attempted to refuel the dirt bike while a police cruiser trailed closely behind. It’s unknown who left the jug behind.
It appeared some fuel made it into the bike’s tank before the suspect sped away again. Pedestrians ran for safety as the rider accelerated out of the park and continued to evade officers.
AIR7 helicopter reporter Chris Cristi reported that the suspect at one point was on the phone with an AIR7 photographer while fleeing police.
Several police units trailed the suspect during the chase.
The pursuit ended when the suspect reportedly fell off the dirt bike and tried to hide in a recycling trash can. Police eventually took the suspect into custody at gunpoint in a South Los Angeles neighborhood.
The chase started just before 5:40 p.m. and lasted more than an hour. Police also said that the dirt bike was stolen.
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