Pasadena police gang officers pursued a wanted man and woman in a stolen car on a chase from Altadena to Los Angeles and in the end arrested both suspects.
Special Enforcement Section officers attempted to stop the pair in Altadena about 10:15 a.m. Thursday after the saw the man, whom they to be wanted, get into the car, authorities said, but the driver failed to pull over.
As the SES officers chased the car, the woman bailed out in the area of Washington Boulevard and Lincoln Avenue in Pasadena. She was quickly captured, Lt. William Grisafe said.
The driver continued to flee at a high rate of speed through Pasadena.
Officers elected to cancel the pursuit out of concern for public safety “due to the recklessness of the suspect driver,” Grisafe said.
A Pasadena police helicopter, however, tracked the suspect from above and ground units followed at a short distance.
Just inside Eagle Rock north of the intersection of Colorado Boulevard at Figueroa Street the driver abandoned the car and attempted to flee on foot, but the helicopter directed officers on the ground.
“There was a short foot pursuit,” Grisafe said, but the suspect was quickly detained.
Grisafe said it was only after the pursuit ended and both suspects in custody that the officers discovered the car was stolen.
Police said the passenger was Lisa Ibarra, 29, of Altadena, who was being held on an outstanding felony warrant in lieu of $85,000 bail.
The driver was Bryan Contreras, 32, of Pasadena, authorities said. He was booked on suspicion of auto theft, evading police and several outstanding warrants. He is being held without bail.
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