Woman Jailed After Slapdash Chase around Los Angeles, Alhambra Friday

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

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ALHAMBRA - Like a spinning top loosed upon the Earth, a pursuit suspect dangerously and carelessly evaded police around the Los Angeles and Alhambra areas Friday.

25-year-old Raquel Alvarez is accused of grand theft auto, felony evading and hit and run, according to the Alhambra Police Department.

An officer attempted to stop Alvarez who ran a red light in a white van at Fremont Avenue and Main Street around 9:11 a.m. February 19. Due to her erratic driving, the pursuit was terminated, Alhambra Police said.

From the westbound I-10 freeway, Alvarez fled to the northbound 101 freeway into the Los Angeles area where the California Highway Patrol was asked to take over.

The chase entered the south 101 after briefly exiting onto surface streets at Melrose Avenue.

Police followed far behind, tracking Alvarez with the aid of a helicopter.

After tearing a path in the Downtown Los Angeles area, Alvarez was seen on live television exiting the stolen van near Templeton Street and Sheffield Avenue. She talked to a pedestrian before fleeing in the van again when police approached her.

Other drivers paced the stolen van and pedestrians conversed with Alvarez during the remainder of the chase as she blew past red lights in the neighborhoods north of California State University, Los Angeles and north of Downtown LA until an unknown driver in a Mini Cooper took Alvarez.

Los Angeles Police officers eventually stopped the Mini Cooper and took Alvarez into custody.

The van Alvarez drove was reported stolen in Los Angeles the same day, Alhambra Police said.

“On Monday, February 23, 2021, detectives from the Alhambra Police Department will present their case to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s office,” Alhambra Police said in a written statement.