Suspect wanted on parole violation, no bail granted
A man wanted for auto theft led Santa Monica Police on a 40-mile high speed pursuit early Thursday after he attempted to run over several officers, injuring one.
Raymond Rivera, a 36-year-old Hispanic transient, was captured by police in El Monte near San Bernadino at 3 a.m. He was stopped by police in Santa Monica for allegedly stealing a car on Euclid Street and Washington Avenue, said SMPD Lt. Frank Fabrega.
Santa Monica police officers received a call at 2:30 a.m. from a man reporting that Rivera was allegedly attempting to steal a car parked in the 900 block of 15th Street. The reporting party told police Rivera had fled on foot when he confronted him, police said.
While police searched the area for Rivera, a responding officer heard a car alarm on Euclid Street. Officers saw a black Chevy Tahoe traveling southbound on Euclid Street. Police followed the vehicle to Lincoln and Olympic boulevards, where they stopped him at gunpoint.
Rivera refused to obey the police officer’s commands to exit the vehicle, which prompted an unidentified officer to fire one shot at the car, Fabrega said. Rivera allegedly rammed a police vehicle, attempted to run over officers at the scene and sped away on Interstate 10.
Santa Monica police chased Rivera at speeds between 70 and 90 mph before he ditched the vehicle on the Santa Anita exit and fled on foot. A Santa Monica police K-9 unit and Los Angeles Police Department’s air unit found Rivera hiding in a parking lot, police said.
He was arrested for assault with a deadly weapon on a police officer, evading police and grand theft auto. Rivera was wanted on a parole violation and was considered an escape risk, police said. He was transported to the Los Angeles County Jail and has no bail.
The injured officer, who was in his vehicle when Rivera rammed it, was treated at a local hospital for abrasions on his arms and legs. He also had glass removed from his eye. He was treated and released.
It is unclear what prompted the officer to shoot at the car. The investigation is ongoing, Fabrega said.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on April 11, 2003. Read the original PDF.