Pursuit began shortly after 9:00 p.m. on Ventura Boulevard and ended around 9:44 in a parking lot area, suspect was driving shirtless, barefoot and with a dog on his lap
The search for a man suspected of burglary and grand theft auto ended in a low-speed police pursuit of a golf cart Sunday night in the San Fernando Valley, authorities reported.
The individual was shirtless and barefoot, with a dog on his lap, behind the wheel of the golf cart with which he was traveling at about 19 miles per hour.
According to the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD), the pursuit began shortly after 9:00 p.m. in the 18700 block of Ventura Boulevard and concluded around 9:44 p.m. after traveling about 10 miles in distance near the intersection of Oxnard Street and Laurel Canyon Boulevard.
Officers responded to a call reporting the theft of a golf cart by a suspect carrying a knife.
The man was driving the small vehicle marked “security” on its side, weaving through traffic, including into oncoming lanes and with a medium to large dog on his legs, while being followed by several patrol cars.
Finally, the subject descended from the golf cart and attempted to flee from police officers while carrying the dog, but was apprehended in the parking lot of a business in the North Hollywood area.
“Don’t drink, don’t do drugs, be a better person,” the subject was heard yelling as officers shoved him into the back seat of a patrol car.
At this time, the suspect is thought to have stolen the golf cart from a local mall, unconfirmed by authorities.
It is also unknown if alcohol or drugs were a factor in the incident.
Officers placed the dog in the back of a patrol car, and it is believed to have been turned over to a nearby animal shelter operated by the city.