LOS ANGELES – There were two stolen patrol units involved in two separate vehicle pursuits, causing three collisions, which led to three teenage suspects being taken into custody in South Los Angeles, police said.

Two Stolen Patrol Units

It began around 9:30 p.m. Wednesday, when police discovered two stolen cruisers. Each one turned into a pursuit.

Officers located both stolen police units traveling together, according to Officer Tony Im with LAPD. When they tried to stop them simultaneous pursuits evolved, reported KTLA.

According to ABC7, one of the stolen police vehicles crashed in the area of 77th and San Pedro streets. A juvenile suspect was taken into custody. One witness said the teen driver appeared “dazed” as he tried to flee on foot following the collision.

“I guess the impact shook him and had him kind of rattled because it took him maybe 15 to 20 seconds to get out of the car and run. And when he ran, he fell twice because he was dazed,” said the witness, who did not want to be identified.

A second pursuit ended with a crash at Central Avenue and Adams Boulevard. In this instance the stolen police unit struck a white sedan. The woman inside complained of back pain but was not seriously hurt, police said. The second suspect was arrested at the scene.

ABC7 reported a third suspect was taken into custody, but it was unclear where this occurred.

Unanswered Questions

Investigators said one of the patrol units was assigned to LAPD’s 77th Division. It wasn’t immediately clear where the other belonged.

Police were trying to determine how the teens were able to pull off the crimes.

“It’s so early in the investigation that we don’t know the means by which the vehicles were removed from the police facilities, or if there were keys involved. We are still trying to sort all of that out,” said Beatrice Girmala of the LAPD.

There were no weapons left in the police cars when they were stolen, nor were any found when recovered, police said.

Police said the unnamed suspects knew each other, but their ages were not given.

Not only did each suspect crash their respective stolen police car, but one of the pursing officers was in a collision with an unrelated vehicle in the area of Broadway and Gage Avenue as well. The officers were likely taken to the hospital for precautionary measures, according to police.

(Photo courtesy Steve Lyon)