5 mph Chase Involves Vigilantes, 9 PIT Maneuvers, 4 Spike Strips

ENCINO, CA — Apparently, Los Angeles' notorious high-speed chase suspects have been doing it all wrong. Maybe they should try easing off the gas a little.

A Los Angeles man evaded arrest for nearly two hours Thursday night by leading police on a snail-speed chase through the San Fernando Valley. Slogging onward at speeds ranging from 5 to a whopping 10 miles per hour, the man was going so slow eight PIT maneuvers and four spike strips failed to stop him. Even foolhardy vigilantes, who took it upon themselves to kick the car and pull at the door handles couldn't put an end to the chase through Van Nuys, Reseda, Winnetka, Encino, Sherman Oaks and back to Encino again.

The ninth PIT maneuver proved to be the charm, and police on Friday identified the driver as Jose Figueroa, 40, of Los Angeles. Figueroa was booked on suspicion of felony evading, said Los Angeles Police Department Detective Meghan Aguilar.

He was being held on $75,000 bail.

The bizarre chase began near Tampa Avenue and Vanowen Street around 10:15 p.m. Thursday, said LAPD Officer Norma Eisenman. It ended in Encino at 11:45 p.m. The spectacle of the slow-moving chase drew onlookers amid a carnival-like atmosphere. At one point during the pursuit, officers pulled back and other drivers tried to stop the car, including one person who kicked the vehicle and another who got out of his car and tried to open the suspect's car door.

Throughout the pursuit, the driver continued to stop at traffic lights and used his traffic signals, while waving his left hand out the window.

City News Service and Patch Reporter Paige Austin contributed to this report. Photo: Youtube screengrab