Sex Offender And Kidnapping Suspect Leads Police On RV Chase

LOS ANGELES, CA — A sex offender and kidnapping suspect led police on a wild chase through Los Angeles County Tuesday afternoon from Hollywood through the San Fernando Valley to the Kern County where the managed to ditch his motorhome and evade police on foot. Police still had not found him as of midnight.

Officials said a suspect in a motorhome who led authorities on a pursuit that began in the Mid-City area Tuesday, extending to Bakersfield, is a registered sex offender from Oregon, who was on parole for a sex offense.

The 46-year-old man was believed to be armed and wanted for evading, child abduction, child endangerment and weapons violations, said Deputy Juanita Navarro-Suarez of the Sheriff's Information Bureau.

The suspect's two children, ages three years and 11 months, were believed to be inside the motorhome, Navarro-Suarez said. They were safely recovered, according to reports from the scene.

The driver was wanted on suspicion of domestic violence stemming from an incident in Santa Clarita Tuesday morning when police attempted to pull him over. He is believed to be armed and had kidnapped his two children, according to police. Sheriff's deputies attempted to chase the suspect Tuesday morning, but disengaged, according to Los Angeles Police Officer Mike Lopez.

"Later on they found out that he is a wanted parolee at large, possibly armed with his two children. That's when he became a kidnapping suspect," Lopez said. "Sheriff's were able to find the vehicle in the Wilshire area.

Los Angeles Police officers attempted to stop the suspect at about 2:33 p.n. near San Vicente Boulevard, but he fled, leading officers through Hollywood and onto the 101 Freeway and eventually to the Golden State (5) Freeway.

City News Service contributed to this report.