Man Allegedly Steals Car with 3 Kids Inside in L.A., Leading to Dramatic Police Chase That Ends in a Crash and His Arrest

A harrowing incident unfolded in Los Angeles on August 29, 2025, when a man allegedly stole a car with three young children inside, leading to a dramatic police chase and his subsequent arrest. The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department (LASD) reported that the ordeal began when officers responded to an assault involving a pedestrian being struck by a car at a convenience store in East Los Angeles around 6:40 p.m. local time.

Upon arriving at the scene, law enforcement discovered that the suspect had commandeered a Chrysler vehicle with three children aged 2, 6, and 8 inside. The mother had briefly left the car running while she went into the store, and the children’s father, parked in a nearby vehicle, attempted to stop the suspect but ended up injured as the suspect drove off with the car.

As the stolen car headed westbound on Olympic Boulevard, the father made a valiant effort to intervene, resulting in him being dragged by the vehicle before falling to the ground and sustaining upper body injuries. LASD’s East Los Angeles division officers swiftly located the suspect and the car, but the suspect refused to stop, leading officers on a pursuit along various roadways and onto interstate-10.

The intense chase eventually culminated in Malibu with a traffic collision involving four other vehicles. Subsequently, the suspect abandoned the vehicle and attempted to escape on foot, navigating a steep embankment before being apprehended in a residential area by California Highway Patrol officers. Witness Erica Trujillo, who was present during the crash, recounted bracing for impact and then observing the suspect fleeing the scene.

Fortunately, the three children who were in the stolen Chrysler sustained non-life-threatening injuries and were promptly transported to a hospital for observation. Additionally, a woman involved in the collision sustained injuries and was also taken to the hospital for medical attention. The suspect, described as a male Asian adult, was likewise injured and received treatment at a hospital, with his identity pending confirmation by LASD.

LASD highlighted that the suspect’s injuries might have been sustained during the collision or as he attempted to evade apprehension by traversing the mountainous residential area. As formal charges are pending completion of the booking process, LASD continues to investigate the incident to determine the appropriate legal actions to be taken against the suspect.

The alarming incident serves as a reminder of the unpredictable and dangerous situations that can arise, impacting innocent individuals such as the children and other motorists involved in the chaos. Authorities urge vigilance and caution in all circumstances to prevent such events from occurring, emphasizing the importance of public safety and swift, effective law enforcement responses in times of crisis.