A Prison Sentence Awaits Man Who Ended His Police Pursuit In Metro Tunnel
Photo: Rafael Lopez Jr.
LOS ANGELES – The Los Angeles District Attorney’s Office has announced yesterday’s two-year prison sentence handed to Rafael Lopez Jr. (27) of Los Angeles. His “No Contest” plea for leading police on a pursuit that ended in a Metro tunnel landed him “Three felony counts in case VA147070: fleeing a pursuing peace officer’s motor vehicle and driving against traffic; driving or taking a vehicle without consent; and hit-and-run driving resulting in injury to another person.”
At Thursday’s court appearance, prosecutors presented the scenario that took place on the evening of Feb. 20th when police observed a reported stolen truck near Gage and Salt Lake avenues in Huntington Park.
When officers attempted to pull over the vehicle, Lopez continued driving. A police pursuit ensued, Lopez drove at high speeds, ran through red lights, traveled on the wrong side of the road, and hit another vehicle.
Prosecutors added, “The defendant then drove onto the light rail lines of the Metro Gold Line and into an underground tunnel, where he abandoned the vehicle. Authorities began searching for Lopez and found him hiding in a closet inside the tunnel. The defendant was subsequently taken into custody.”
The case was investigated by the Huntington Park Police Department.
Los Angeles County District Attorney Jackie Lacey leads the largest local prosecutorial office in the nation. Her staff of nearly 1,000 attorneys, 300 investigators and 800 support staff members is dedicated to protecting our community through the fair and ethical pursuit of justice and the safeguarding of crime victims’ rights.
