Deputies led on wild chase that includes crashes, carjacking, kidnapping

 

 

A 30-year-old Chatsworth man was in custody Friday night in Santa Clarita after a dramatic string of crimes involving a stabbing, an assault, a carjacking, a kidnapping, another auto theft, multiple car crashes and resisting arrest, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department said.

Authorities said the chain of events started about 5:50 p.m. when Aaron Clay Tanner allegedly stabbed his mother multiple times and pushed her out of their car on the 14 Freeway at the interchange with the 5 Freeway, near Mission Hills.

Tanner then drove north on the 14 and exited at the Newhall Avenue off-ramp in Newhall, authorities said. At the bottom of the off-ramp, he reportedly crashed into another vehicle in a park-and-ride lot. About 6 p.m., a witness called the Santa Clarita Sheriff’s Station to report the hit-and-run. Deputies soon arrived and a woman told them that she had been assaulted and that her PT Cruiser had been carjacked, with her 4-year-old son inside.

A deputy spotted the PT Cruiser about four miles away, where the suspect had crashed it near Carl Boyer Avenue and Golden Valley Road in Canyon Country. The suspect had rear-ended another vehicle and then backed into a tree, disabling the PT Cruiser.

As the deputy hurried to help the child, the suspect got out of the car, circled around and stole the deputy’s car, the Sheriff’s Department said. The deputy immediately alerted other patrol deputies and a nearby Sheriff’s Department helicopter.

Near Newhall Ranch and Santa Clarita roads in Saugus, deputies pursuing the suspect saw him drive at a high rate of speed to the end of a cul-de-sac. He crashed the patrol car head-on into a 4-foot block wall, went over an embankment and dropped about 100 feet. The car rolled several times and came to rest at the bottom, where it caught on fire.

As the deputies rushed to reach the suspect and the burning radio car, they saw the suspect reaching for a shotgun that had become dislodged in the vehicle. The deputies tussled with the suspect, eventually using a Taser to subdue him. The suspect bit several deputies on their legs and hands as they tried to handcuff him.

“Numerous people are being medically treated because of the suspect’s outrageously violent actions,” said Capt. Mike Parker of the sheriff’s Headquarters Bureau. “A lot of cars were damaged, but more than anything else we are concerned about all the adults and child who were injured, and hope they all come out of this OK.”

The child, who received minor injuries, was treated by doctors and released. His mother was being treated at a hospital for injuries to her face. The mother and child are residents of Palmdale.

The mother of the suspect was stabbed multiple times in her upper body, but preliminary reports were that her injuries were not life-threatening. She also lives in Chatsworth. All other victims are residents of Santa Clarita Valley.

Tanner was hospitalized in serious condition. The Sheriff’s Department said he would be booked on charges of attempted murder, kidnapping, carjacking, attempted carjacking, auto theft, assault with a deadly weapon, evading arrest, and felony hit-and-run with injuries. His bail amount was expected to be about $500,000.

-- Martha Groves

Comments

[John Doe]

His name is an allias - he is a Muslim

[DJH]

Why is Mr. Tanner still breathing? He should have been shot on site. Then stabbed with the knife he stuck his mom with. Piece of junk..... killin is too good for him.

[Bill Jablonski]

Posted at 02:06 AM (12-18) " Whem" spelled incorrectly was to be,"when"; likewise with ,"nieborhoods" ,"neighborhoods" was meant. Thank you. Bill J

[Blue Circle]

We need a followup story to this one!

[An American]

Gee...model-citizen.

[Bill Jablonski]

To ,"Big John" and other similar comments: why doesnt one go visit a Sheriffs Station and/or City Police Dept. Spend a few minutes to talk to the Officers and aqquaint oneselve with a ,"ride along" or such ? Go to the West Covina Police Dept. and see the Memorial for the fallen officers be assured that Law Enforcement Personal dont just ride along ,etc. It is a tough duty at times and can you be in there shoes? Have a pleasant holiday just like the Sheriffs/Officers who are on patrol for our safety Christmas Eve and Day!

[me.yahoo.com/a/sBzMTW10n_RL00f4KPONTFNxbGEczg--]

I am shocked that bail is even being considered in this case. This guy needs a psychiatric facility with lots of calming drugs.

[sean]

Video games these days...

[sean]

It happens all the time with ghetto minorities but because he is White it's news...

[DJH]

LA Times: How is someone else posting here with the same 3-letter "name" that I have? How many separate people can use the same call letters or "name"?

[Lexicon Artist]

If you look up "Aaron Clay Tanner" on Facebook, you can see what he looks like. As others have surmised, this appears to be the case of someone with serious drug problems, but it's probably combined with an untreated mental illness like bipolar disorder. My guess is that this was not the first time Mr. Tanner went "crazy." He probably could have been helped by psychiatric medications.

[u know]

Just reading some of these posts makes me realize that society is getting so hung up on race. The hatred so many have for the illegals is now seeping over to all aspects of race relations, how sad. It's Christmas time people, leave the hate behind and embrace your fellow man.

[LAPD87]

Ok all this race card crap is exactly that..crap. I am a police officer. The reason this guy didnt get shot is because the Deputy that saw this guy reach for a shotgun was about 5feet from the guy when he reached. The gun was about 8 feet. It would have been more of a danger to the deputy to take the time and draw his weapon than just to jump on him. You people that aren't law enforcement have no business on passing judgment on a police shooting. The guy in Long beach was exhibiting unpredictable behavior and cops yelled at him over a bull horn..but the second you get what you percieve is a gun pointed at you, I am pretty sure you wouldnt sit back and wait to see what happens next. There are some shootings that are rediculous..the Oakland shooting, the Inglewood shooting where 40 shots were unloaded at this guy. But if you think you can do a better job and not die in the process, go ahead and submit your application. Otherwise, stop disrespecting the very people that keep you safe.

It is an absolute disgrace that you pass judgement on officers. Your going off of reports you get through the media, not police reports. I really do hope that you at one point are a part of a violent crime, whether it be a witness or even a victim, just so you can see what heroes law enforcement really are. We go to places that you only have nightmares about, and deal with people that are the protagonists in horror stories. I am white and I have arrested just as many white people that commit the same crime that every other colored skin people do. There are bad apples, but there are bad apples in every profession. So stop thinking so negatively about Cops. Do you even know how many hispanic and black cops the 10,000 member LAPD force has? I bet you don't and unless your going to accuse them of being racist or partial against their own race(which is foolish) you just make foolish uneducated assumptions.

[Mike Cagle]

Who are all the idiots who are mad that the officers managed to capture the guy? "Why didn't they just kill him," that say. Well, because we don't live in an old movie about the "wild west." We live in a civilized society with a justice system. The officers did a great job. Your complaints are nonsensical.

[LAPD87]

Thank you Bill and Mike Cagle. Its people like you that make my job something that I take pride in. Just so everyone knows an average of 365 law enforcement officers die every year. thats 1 per day. Make no mistake. Our profession is dangerous and thankless.

[TheBigPicture]

This guy is like Robo-Perp...I can't wait for the movie...

[patrick]

Wow, I'm glad they caught the guy before he could hurt more people.

[theCanimalsHusband]

The criminal is obviously not Asian, Latino nor Caucasian due to the politically correct media's refusal to post his photo. This does a great disservice to the African American community.

[Dano50]

The only "story" here is that a (likely) mentally ill young man (most likely with a history of drug abuse) went on a psychotic rampage...period.

The attempt to kill his mother is the big clue of the "psychotic break". Everything that happened afterward was probably just a hazy memory for him, (but certainly not for the people who suffered harm as a result of his actions).

While his actions are certainly criminal and he has to be held accountable, most likely the cause of this outburst will be determined to be a mental health issue and not criminal intent per se (such as planning to rob a bank and winding up killing someone in the process).

There are no race issues, no issues of inappropriate use of force, no religious, illegal immigration, political or global warming issues involved in this case. The best comment on the whole "use of force" matter is the policeman's (LAPD87).

To all who feel the need to vent their rage and express ungrounded opinions, and flame other commentators, might want to track this case over the next year to see if this analysis is correct. Most likely he will be stabilized, stand trial and then locked up indefinitely in a state mental hospital.

May all who were harmed heal quickly and fully.

[USC Trojan Fan]

So Deputy Barney Fife allows for his patrol car to be stolen by the suspect? He'll never live that one down with Sheriff Taylor....

[LAPD87]

USC trojan Fan- I'm LAPD so I love any fodder that I can use to tease my deputy brothers with LACSD..But it sounds like to me afer talking to a few responding deputies, that this dude was on PCP and the officer genuinly feared for the childs safety. He made a move that put him at risk which was leaving his shotgun unattended, but he did this thinking that he needed every second he had to save the kid that was jacked a long with the car. While your comment brought me a good chuckle, I think on this one I actually gotta applaud my fellow Law Enforcement officer. They are great guys, even though they wear Green pants :)

[giley1]

I think law enforcement used a lot of restraint against this wild out of control suspect. Just plain luck that no innocent people were seriously hurt.

[eric]

Wow!!

i went to germain elementary in chatsworth with this dude back in the 80's, he was a that crazy little white kid that nobody had anything to do with.

Seems it was for good reason.

[dave]

@ Jack; Long beach man shot dead with a water nozzle was white. Something for YOU to think about. Racists come in all colors including mine and yours. I'm not a racist but lately I'm dealing with negative emotions I have for people (mostly males ) who are under 30 or act like they are. Do you have the nerve to admit your issues and how they influence your comment????

[4Real]

@ Eric I'm not in the medical profession but do you think that maybe because you kids didn't have anything to do with him might be the reason he is like he is? It's bullying in reverse. Think about it, and when you see someone no matter their color or their place in life, give them a smile or say hello. It works. Anyway, Merry Christmas.