BEVERLY HILLS—On May 14, at approximately 1:15 p.m., a Beverly Hills Police Department officer's ALPR equipped vehicle spotted a stolen vehicle in the area of Wilshire and Mc Carty Drive, reports Lieutenant Mark Rosen, of the Beverly Hills Police Department, to Canyon News. 

After providing a description of the stolen car to officers that were responding to the vicinity, Rosen states, a second officer located the vehicle traveling eastbound on Wilshire, approaching Canon Drive. 

The suspect attempted to elude capture by driving rapidly through the Business Triangle, at the 300 block of North Rodeo Drive.  Fearing that the speeding felon might strike an unsuspecting pedestrian or motorist, the pursing officer decided to use his lights and siren to alert the public of what was occurring, thus initiating a vehicle pursuit.  While on Rodeo,  the suspect abandoned his vehicle, running to the rear of 355 N. Rodeo Drive.  The suspect was apprehended in the alley shortly after he fled from his vehicle by BHPD personnel without further incident.  The pursuit lasted less than 15 seconds.

  

Beverly Hills. Photo by Joanne DeCaro Afornalli

Additionally, the suspect struck an unoccupied vehicle prior to fleeing from his stolen car, and he is a confirmed Parolee at Large.

The suspect who was arrested is 27-year-old Jack Cartagena, of Anaheim.

Rosen reports that one of the arresting officers was a School Resource Officer (SRO).  Typically assigned to a fixed post, the SRO was traveling from one school to another.  His patrol route placed him in close proximity to the pursuit, and he was able to quickly respond to the area. 

Rosen called the SRO "instrumental in the arrest of this suspect."

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