High-speed LA police chase with BMW ends in crash in Koreatown; rifle pulled from scene

LOS ANGELES - A high-speed police chase in Los Angeles took a dangerous turn as a BMW driver crashed into another car before knocking down a pole, hitting a parked car, and knocking down a street sign.

SkyFOX was over the scene in Koreatown as the suspect inside the BMW, believed to be stolen, led the Los Angeles Police Department on a chase Thursday afternoon.

The chase ended at Wilton and 5th Street in Koreatown after the BMW crashed into a white Mazda, knocking the car off the road and into a nearby building. After crashing into a different car – a white SUV that was parked – and knocked over a sign, the suspect in the BMW not only survived the crash, but managed to ditch the car on foot.

Three people, two men and a woman, were arrested.

The pursuit began following an armed robbery.

"They were approached while they were in their vehicle or outside their vehicle. The suspect pointed some kind of firearm at them and took some of their belongings. I think it was like a purse or wallet and possibly a cell phone," said LASD Sgt. Luis zamorano. 

Officials did not say where the BMW was stolen from. No deaths were reported from the serious crash as of 3:15 p.m.

At one point during the crash investigation, a Los Angeles County Sheriff's deputy pulled a rifle from the scene. It is unknown if the suspect used the rifle in any way leading to the chase.