Crime and Public Safety |
Driver arrested at John Wayne Airport after police pursuit that reached 120 mph

Los Angeles police arrested a man on suspicion of evading police after he led officers on a pursuit from Wilmington to John Wayne Airport on Friday night, May 24. (OC Hawk)
Orange County Register associate Nathan Percy.  Additional Information: Mugs.1113 Photo by Nick Koon /Staff Photographer.
PUBLISHED: | UPDATED:

A police pursuit that at times reached speeds of more than 120 mph and ended at John Wayne Airport on Friday night, May 24 led to the arrest of the driver.

Officers on patrol in Wilmington spotted a driver in a blue Chevy Cruze doing doughnuts near the intersection of Harry Bridges Boulevard and King Avenue about 8:20 p.m. and attempted to pull him over, but he fled, Lt. Joseph Fransen said.

Police pursued the sedan, which eventually entered the southbound 405 Freeway and at times hit speeds upwards of 120 mph in Orange County, ABC Los Angeles reported. At times, the driver also ran red lights.

The pursuit lasted about 30 minutes, Fransen said, before the suspect drove into the grounds of John Wayne Airport, where he was taken into custody on suspicion of felony evading a police officer.

Fransen did not have further information about the driver. The lieutenant said he was not aware of any impact on fights or passengers at JWA.

More in Crime and Public Safety