Suspect arrested after hours-long standoff, shutting down L.A. Freeways

A man was arrested after an hours-long standoff Friday night that shut down the 710 and 91 Freeways.

The suspect led Long Beach officers on a pursuit before pulling over on the on-ramp to the southbound 710 Freeway near Alondra Boulevard in Compton around 4:15 p.m.

However, he refused to come out and moved into the rear portion of the van, barricading himself inside.

All lanes of the southbound 710 Freeway were shut down before reopening around 5:30 p.m. Traffic, however, was still backed up for miles as after-work commuters hit the streets.

A spike strip was set up in front of the van. At around 6 p.m., patrol units started backing away and the spike strip was removed as the suspect suddenly drove off. The front driver’s side tire was deflated and he drove down the freeway before taking the next exit at Long Beach Boulevard.

He pulled over on the off-ramp, got out of the van and began running away on the shoulder. He then turned back around and returned to the van to inspect the vehicle.

Long Beach police later confirmed that a female victim reported she had been kidnapped by a man but officers later determined that a kidnapping did not actually happen, which is why the driver was initially allowed to leave.

However, minutes after the suspect pulled over again, four patrol cars pulled up behind the van.

They attempted to speak with the suspect before he suddenly drove off again, heading to the westbound 91 Freeway.

Officers used two PIT maneuvers before finally disabling the van on the freeway shoulder. Police surrounded the suspect as three of the van’s tires were deflated. Several non-lethal rounds were fired at the passenger window and the man remains inside.

He covered the shattered window with a large blanket and a cardboard box as the standoff continued.

Officers armed with shields and weapons approached the van and opened the back doors, dragging the suspect outside. The man was tackled on the ground before police took him into custody at around 7:40 p.m.

He was placed onto a gurney and transported to a local hospital for medical evaluation. His identity has not been released as the incident remains under investigation.

Footage of the full standoff can be seen in the video player above.

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