The arrest followed a chase through downtown Los Angeles.
A man was arrested in San Pedro today after allegedly stealing a Los Angeles Fire Department battalion chief’s SUV and leading police on a pursuit in the South Bay area.
The theft was reported at about 2 p.m. in the area of Seventh Street and Flower Street, said Officer Rosario Cervantes of the Los Angeles Police Department’s Media Relations Division. Police say it was stolen while it was parked.
“Because the one ton pickup truck, like all LAFD fleet vehicles was equipped with a GPS transponder, it was instantly tracked in real-time, allowing law enforcement agencies to initiate a strategic following,” the LAFD said.
LAPD units pursued the vehicle and deployed spike strips, damaging the SUV’s tires. The man eventually pulled over in a parking lot in the area of North Pacific Avenue and West Santa Cruz Street and surrendered to police at about 2:45 p.m.
The suspect was taken into custody without further incident. LAFD officials said it appeared that only one or more tires were damaged on the vehicle.
The motive for the theft was not immediately clear.
