An alleged gunpoint robbery in Newhall leading to a pursuit ended with deputies deploying a spike strip and taking two suspects into custody, according to law enforcement officials.
The arrests stem from a report received by deputies at approximately 6:20 p.m. Tuesday, near the intersection of Valley Street and Lyons Avenue.
“The victim drove to Valley and Lyons and parked his vehicle,” said Sgt. Curt Messerschmidt, of the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station Career Offender — Burglary, Robbery, Assault, or COBRA, Team. “The victim walked to an ATM at the location.”
Upon returning to his vehicle, Messerschmidt said, two men approached him with a handgun, demanding the victim’s money, to which he complied.
“The suspects got into a red Kia Optima and fled the scene,” said Messerschmidt. “The victim was able to take a picture of the suspect’s vehicle with his cellphone and then contacted (SCV Sheriff’s) Station.”
Deputies shortly thereafter were able to locate the vehicle in the area of Sand Canyon and Highway 14 and they attempted to conduct a felony traffic stop.
“The vehicle failed to stop and a vehicle pursuit ensued,” said Messerschmidt. “Deputies pursued the vehicle to approximately Red Rover Mine Road where (California Highway Patrol) took over.”
“A successful spike strip of the vehicle was conducted at Avenue M and the 14 Freeway, however the pursuit continued,” Messerschmidt added. “The suspects exited at Avenue I in the city of Lancaster and proceeded to drive on surface streets.”
A second spike was then used on the vehicle at 10th Street East and Lancaster Boulevard.
“The suspect vehicle came to a stop and the front passenger exited the vehicle and began to flee,” said Messerschmidt. “A containment of the area was established and deputies located the passenger within the containment. The driver of the vehicle was taken into custody where the vehicle originally stopped.”
The two 19-year-old men from Lancaster were held in lieu of $100,000 bail, according to Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department arrest logs.
