Police Take Down Suspected Drunk Driving Transient Wanted For Assaulting Officer In High-Speed Chase
LOS ANGELES (CBSLA) — A transient and suspected drunk driver from Alabama was arrested in a late-night police chase after he allegedly struck an officer with his car, authorities said Wednesday.
The chase started in Burbank, when officers were investigating a report of a suspicious occupied vehicle near Riverside and Beachwood Drive, according to Burbank Police Sgt. Derek Green.
Officers found the 2016 Nissan Altima and spotted a man seated in the driver's seat, Green said. Police say they smelled alcohol and saw open alcohol containers inside the car, according to Green.
The man refused to provide ID to the officers, and when they asked him to exit the car, he accelerated and sped away, striking one of the officers with the car door, police said.
At least one officer suffered minor injuries, according to Burbank police.
The chase made its way onto the 5 and 10 freeways, onto La Cienega, and back around as the driver headed back toward Burbank.
The driver stopped on the 5 Freeway near Olive Avenue, apparently because his car ran out of gas. But he didn't immediately surrender.
SKY2 was overhead as the suspect got out of his car and first appeared to argue with the officers and yell at them. He also looked to be using a vaping pen as he yelled and gestured at the 10 squad cars in front of him, occasionally looking up at the police helicopter above.
After a few minutes of yelling, police officers hit the driver with a sponge impact weapon, or sponge gun. The driver clutched his chest and fell down, allowing a swarm of officers to tackle him. He was taken into custody without further incident.
Police later identified the driver as Quardarrian Gray, 25, of Birmingham, Ala. He was booked on suspicion of assaulting a police officer, driving while under the influence and felony evading.
Gray is being held on $50,000 bail and will make his first court appearance Friday.