Stolen Box Truck That Led Police Pursuit Into Boyle Heights Was Carrying 1,650 Gallons Of Diesel Fuel
BOYLE HEIGHTS (CBSLA.com) — A stolen box truck that led police on a chase from Valencia into Boyle Heights contained more than 1,000 gallons of diesel fuel worth over $5,000, authorities said Tuesday.
Los Angeles County sheriff's deputies gave chase Monday at about 9:27 a.m. when they discovered a white Ford box truck driving erratically near Magic Mountain on the southbound Golden State (5) Freeway was reported stolen out of Lemoore in Central California.
The truck led the pursuit at speeds up to 80 mph, making several unsafe lane changes and swerving onto a dirt shoulder before colliding into a concrete barrier wall, pushing the wall into opposing traffic lanes of the transition road, sheriff's officials said.
The suspect jumped from the truck and ran across two lanes of traffic into a Boyle Heights neighborhood, then tried to hide between trash cans before he was taken into custody.
About 1,650 gallons of stolen diesel fuel was discovered in five large marked containers, worth more than 5,000, in the back of the truck, sheriff's officials said.
The suspect was identified as Jose Ramirez, 27, of Pacoima, and booked on charges ranging from evading a police office and grand theft.
Caltrans responded to the scene to repair and replace the damaged section of concrete barrier from the roadway.