The long standoff on the Southbound 55 Freeway finally has come to an end! The standoff was the result of a stolen big rig pursuit that began in Sun Valley on Wednesday night and concluded in Orange County as the suspect refused to leave the rig while surrounded by CHP and Irvine police officers.
The male suspect was finally arrested at about 8:30 a.m. today.
The big rig was stolen at about 8:15 p.m. on Wednesday night from a food service lot in East Los Angeles.
CHP patrol vehicles and a helicopter pursued the stolen big rig as it snaked through freeways in Los Angeles, Ventura and eventually Orange counties.
The police officers tried several times to stop the big rig with spike strips but while they succeeded in blowing up some of the truck tires the suspect kept going.
The pursuit ended in Orange County near Dyer Road early this morning. The CHP closed down the freeway causing a commuting nightmare for residents trying to get to work.
The SAPD provided their SWAT team to try to help convince the suspect to get out of the truck.
The suspect kept trying to get the truck to move and finally gave up and exited the vehicle at around 8:30 a.m.
The suspect has not yet been identified but he appeared to be a male in his early 20s.
The bad news is the freeway will remain closed for at least a few more hours due to the ongoing investigation continues.
Commuters are urged to avoid the area. If they are trying to get to Irvine or the coastal cities they will have to take the streets or stay on the 5 South to the 405 Freeway.
