Customer Arrested for using Stolen Car to Demolish Crunch Fitness
Photo: scene of damage
LA MIRADA – There it is, plain as day on the wall of the reception area – “Set Some Goals, Then Demolish Them.” And so, this rather unfortunate motto foretold what happened when a disgruntled customer let his fitness club suspension get the best of him.
Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Norwalk Station Deputies gave immediate response to a 1:43 AM “Hit and Run” call on March 19th. They arrived on the 12800 block of Valley View Avenue, to encounter the scene in shambles.
Shattered glass littered the scene when a compact car plowed through the front plate-glass window of Crunch Fitness. The car demolished the reception counter, as the receptionist ran for his life.
“Witnesses at the scene described hearing the revving of an engine and seeing a male adult suspect exit from the crashed vehicle.” said LASD. “When the suspect began to run from the scene, witnesses gave chase and followed the suspect to where he was seen entering the passenger side of an awaiting vehicle.”
The fleeing suspects tried to lose the pursuing witnesses by traversing several streets. Eventually, the getaway driver collided into a curb at Alicante Road and Mananares Road, then fled on foot.
Arriving Norwalk Station Deputies detained the passenger, Sergio Reyes (32) of Whittier, at the scene. Reyes was arrested for attempted murder. The vehicle used to plow through Crunch Fitness was ID’d as a vehicle stolen from Whittier a few days earlier.
“With that additional information, the suspect was also charged with taking/driving a vehicle without owner’s consent,” said LASD.
A thorough search of the area could not locate the getaway driver. The investigation is ongoing.
The good news: No injuries were reported. And, the suspect reportedly will not be returning to the club to harass females – which got him suspended in the first place.
