Police arrest man hiding in storm drain near 405 Freeway
A burglary suspect in North Hills who hid inside a small storm drain along the southbound 405 Freeway for almost 12 hours, causing a major traffic jam, has been taken into custody, authorities said.
The man was arrested immediately after being pulled from the culvert about 2:30 p.m., police said. He was taken to a nearby hospital for observation, said d’Lisa Davies, a spokeswoman for the Los Angeles Fire Department.
Two lanes of the freeway remain closed, and California Highway Patrol officials did not say when they would reopen.
The incident began about 3 a.m. when officers with the Los Angeles Police Department responded to a radio call of a burglary in progress at an auto parts warehouse near the freeway. Officers arrested one man, but a second fled on foot toward brush along the freeway, said LAPD Officer Bruce Borihanh.
The man then hid inside the storm drain to avoid capture, Borihanh said. The CHP closed all southbound lanes between Roscoe Boulevard and Sherman Way as officers searched the area. Two lanes were reopened by 6 a.m. but the others remained closed, CHP officials said.
-- Ruben Vives
Los Angeles Police, and Firefighter search and rescue teams work to remove a burglary suspect hiding inside a storm drain, on Tuesday, June 16, 2009 in Los Angeles. Spencer Weiner / LA Times
Another IDIOT who caused me to sit in traffice. Since we as a county and state do not have any money to support this cause of actions.
Why don't the DA make this fool pay for all the issues HE caused. Make him pay for ALL the police time, police gas, helicopter fuel, time for the firemen and their gas. Plus I also people from Caltrans there. Plus his trip to the hospital.
So what if it takes all these idiots 50 years, better then raising MY taxes.
Posted by: A Concerned American | June 16, 2009 at 06:23 PM
This does not make any sense! Why close the freeway for 12 hours or more?
Posted by: nijode | June 16, 2009 at 06:59 PM
Rediculous situation!...seemed to me like a massive over-reaction by LAPD, LAFD and all the other of dozens and dozens of law enforcement officials involved in this situation...I thought they cornered Osama Bin Laden...there were more law enforcement officials standing around, doing nothing, cop cars lined up like you would not believe....similar to a street repair job by Cal-Trans! lot's of standing around, nothing getting accomplished...Would like to hear some feed back, Mr. Boston Braton, I'm a fellow Bostonian....bet the speeding tickets and other annoying violations written by these police officers won't meet the quota for 06-16-09, But I'm sure they will make it up before the end of the month, just us regular people trying to get to work....some heads should roll
Posted by: William | June 16, 2009 at 07:57 PM