Suspected Drug Dealer Leads Police on Chase Through South Pasadena

SOUTH PASADENA, CA - A Glendale man suspected of drug dealing was arrested today after he led South Pasadena police on a high-speed chase that ended in Glendale, police said.

Officers were waiting for the suspect at 11:50 p.m. Tuesday at the South Pasadena home of a woman against whom he had allegedly made criminal threats, police said. They expected Joseph Young, 39, to confront the woman for payment after a marijuana deal went awry, said South Pasadena police Sgt. Matthew Ronnie.

The officers tried to arrest him, but he fled, driving off at a high rate of speed, Ronnie said.

The pursuit lasted about 30 minutes and stretched over 30 miles through South Pasadena, Pasadena, Alhambra and Los Angeles, ending in Glendale, Ronnie said, adding no one was injured.

Young abandoned his vehicle in a parking structure at Glendale Community College and officers then chased after him on foot. He was taken into custody without incident during a perimeter search assisted by a Pasadena police helicopter crew, Ronnie said.

Young's vehicle contained "an enormous amount of marijuana that was packaged for sale," according to Ronnie. He was arrested on suspicion of felony criminal threats, felony evading and felony transportation of drugs for sales.

City News Service; Photo: www.drugabuse.gov