A woman driving an allegedly stolen, late model Elantra Hyundai led police on a high speed chase from Gardena to Hermosa Beach, a distance of about six miles, beginning about 11 p.m. Monday night. The chase ended when the suspect crashed the Hyundai into a Ford SUV parked alongside the center meridian in front of the North End Bar in the 2600 block of Hermosa Avenue.
Following the crash police immediately arrested the driver as she attempted to flee. Two passengers in the car also attempted to flee. A male passenger fled in the direction of The Strand, according to witnesses. He eluded officers for nearly an hour before a police officer was seen walking him along Hermosa Avenue for about a block to a Gardena police car, where the officer searched him. Shortly after midnight the driver and the male suspect who initially eluded police were driven off in separate police cars. A witness said neither suspect appeared to be injured. Information about the third suspect was not immediately available.
Dominique Delacroix, a bartender at North End, said she went outside when she heard the car crash because she was concerned the crash may have involved one of her customers. She said she counted 15 police cars from Gardena, Hermosa, Redondo and other neighboring cities.
During the search a drone, and a helicopter with a powerful searchlight circled the area until the fleeing suspects were found. ER
