Police Arrest Balloon-Blowing DUI Suspect Following Chase, Standoff
PANORAMA CITY (CBSLA.com) — Authorities Friday arrested a DUI suspect who led them on a pursuit along Cantaloupe Avenue in Panorama City.
The 22-year-old suspect eventually pulled over on the residential street following a slow-speed chase that began at 10:49 a.m.
The man could be seen inhaling balloons filled with nitrous, which can cause hallucinations and depth perception problems, while sitting in the vehicle's front seat.
"When the officers initially approached him, he appeared to be gravely intoxicated. He was rocking back-and-forth in his vehicle and he continued to inhale the gas in the balloon," Lt. Mitzi Fierro said.
Officers fired bean bags through the car's passenger-side window to subdue him. They then used a baton to break the glass on the driver's side window and removed the suspect from the vehicle.
He was arrested around 11:15 a.m. and taken to a local hospital for treatment.
The suspect's father told CBS2 that his son has a history of drug abuse.
