Car Theft Suspect Can’t Outrace Police

A man suspected of stealing foreign sports cars in the Boyle Heights area was arrested Wednesday after leading a motorcycle officer on a wild chase at speeds up to 80 m.p.h., Los Angeles police said.

“He drove like he was insane,” Officer Raul LaRiva said of the suspect. “The car was all over the road--spinning out, running through red lights, speeding on the wrong side of the road and nearly crashing into oncoming cars.”

LaRiva was patrolling near Roosevelt High School, where he said at least four stolen Mazda RX-7s have been abandoned recently, when he saw another RX-7 speeding south on Mathew Street and gave chase.

The suspect, identified as Ignacio Armenta, 19, of Highland Park, led LaRiva on a 10-mile chase that ended on the Golden State Freeway at 4th Street, where Armenta bailed out of the car. Search dogs found him hiding in a paint shed behind an apartment complex.

Armenta was booked on suspicion of grand theft, reckless driving and evading arrest. LaRiva said at least one other man is being sought in the car thefts.