Hermosa police run down alleged motorcycle thief
Police officers ran down a man in a foot chase after he sideswiped two cars on a stolen motorcycle near the fire department late Monday afternoon.
Michael Dille, 39, of South Gate, was charged with vehicle theft and leaving the scene of an accident after police caught him in the 800 block of 17th Street.
Dille was driving a stolen motorcycle when he struck two parked cars on Pier and Ardmore avenues just after 5 p.m. Monday, Det. Mick Gaglia said in a press release.
A citizen flagged down a nearby fire fighter to alert him that an accident had occurred, said Hermosa Beach Police Sergeant Bob Higgins. After Dille unsuccessfully tried to restart the motorcycle, he fled on foot, Higgins said.
The foot pursuit lasted about five minutes and involved about eight officers, including from Manhattan Beach. Citizens and business owners pointed out to officers where Dille had ran and helped officers to locate him, police said.
Sgt. Don Jones found Dille climbing over a residential fence and took him into custody at gunpoint, the press release said. The motorcycle was reported stolen out of Long Beach on May 28.