Police Pursuit Through Sherman Oaks Ends in Crash

Two burglary suspects were arrested on Natick Avenue in Sherman Oaks after leading police on a high-speed pursuit through city streets  that ended when the suspects car crashed into a parked Sports Utility Vehicle.

The incident began in the Hollywood Hills just before 11:00 a.m. when a resident called police to report suspicious invidividuals at a house on Mullholland Drive. When officers arrived on the scene, the two men in a maroon-Honda Civic took off and police in a patrol car began pursuing them north on to surface streets of the San Fernando Valley.

"They could have killed somebody, that's how fast they were going," said Los Angeles Police Officer Mike Paris who was in the patrol car that was pursuing the suspects.

"That little Honda was really flying," added Paris.

At this point, since the safety of pedestrians during a police pursuit has become an issue for police, the officers called for help from a police helicopter.

"We called in the airship because they were going so fast it was dangerous trying to keep up with them, that way we could slow down and still keep track of where they were going," said Paris.

The suspects led police on to the 101 freeway, then exited at Woodman Avenue in Sherman Oaks. Still driving at high speed, police say they turned into the maze of dead end streets north of Ventura Boulevard between Van Nuys and Sepulveda Boulevards.

With the helicopter overhead, the suspects eventually came to a cul- de-sac at the corner of Natick Avenue and Hortense Street. Turning south at top speed,police say the suspects car crashed into a large Nissan XTerra that was parked on the 4500 block of Natick Avenue.

The two suspects were immediately arrested by officers. Neither one seemed to be injured. One of them, described as a juvenile was being questioned by officers on the sidewalk. The other one, who police said is 19 years old, was locked into the back of a patrol car.

"We found a computer, a television and burglary tools inside the car and the vehicle was stolen," said Los Angeles Police Sergeant Maria Morrison.

Two bottles of liquor were on the floor of the suspect's car.

The front end of the Honda was crunched and bent in the collision, the SUV received small dents to its back bumper.

"We probably won't be seeing these guys out on the street for a while," said officer Paul Skinner as he mounted his motorcycle and headed off down Hortense Street.