In Southern California, police pursuits are common. But THIS was one for the books. A suspect in an allegedly stolen minivan led authorities on a two-hour, 170-mile chase through four counties on Monday (November 10). The chase ended with her escaping into Mexico, officials said.
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Police Chase Draws In Deputies & Highway Patrol
The police began around 11 a.m. when deputies responded to reports of a Toyota Sienna taken from outside a sober living home in Thousand Oaks. Law enforcement identified the suspect as a 29-year-old woman who lived at the sober facility. She was reportedly experiencing mental health issues, and stole the car from her mother, per ABC7.
The area is about 40 miles northwest of Los Angeles, according to the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office. Deputies chased the vehicle at speeds reaching 90 mph, per the Associated Press. The California Highway Patrol took over the pursuit as the minivan headed south on Interstate 405 into Los Angeles County.
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Suspect Swerved TWO Attempts To Stop Her
TV news helicopters followed as the minivan swerved to avoid a spike strip that the CHP placed in its path. A second spike strip attempt also failed, and by noon, the suspect had sped into Orange County on Interstate 5. After the chase reached San Diego County, the CHP notified Customs and Border Protection just after 1 p.m. that the vehicle was nearing the border.
CHP units were called off from the pursuit on State Route 905 around 1:20 p.m. because of public safety concerns. To protect officers and motorists, stopping the pursuit is a common practice for chases near the border.
“We don’t want this car forcing its way through the entry, hurting other people,” CHP Sgt. Esteban Hernandez told the Los Angeles Times.
Where Is The Woman Now?
Shortly before 1:30 p.m., CHP officers were notified that the minivan had made its way through the San Ysidro crossing into Mexico, Hernandez said. She reentered through the same crossing Tuesday, the highway patrol said in a statement. The driver was detained by U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers. The Ventura County Sheriff’s Office was due to take her into custody, and charges were pending.
Officials at Customs and Border Protection did not immediately respond to a request for additional details from AP.
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Associated Press contributed to this report via AP Newsroom.
