LA man accused of leading local police on chase

Authorities arrested an 18-year-old Los Angeles man Wednesday after he and a second suspect allegedly led Porterville police on a chase to Bakersfield.

The Porterville Police Department reports that at about 1 a.m. Wednesday, officers responded to a burglary alarm at Sunlines Handy Market, 383 E. Date Ave. The first officer on scene spotted a car leaving the area and when he tried to stop it, the driver failed to yield and a pursuit ensued.

Police say officers chased the car onto southbound Highway 65, where Tulare County Sheriff’s Department deputies assisted as it continued southbound into Kern County.

During the pursuit, police learned the alarm was set off by an actual burglary and the persons in the van were involved, the PPD reports.

Police say during the chase, one of the suspects discarded several burglary tools and a police scanner, which were later recovered.

California Highway Patrol units took over the pursuit as it entered Kern County and were assisted by the Kern County Sheriff’s Department.

When the car reached southbound Highway 99 at California Avenue in Bakersfield, two people abandoned the van, allowing it to crash into a bridge.  

Officers quickly nabbed a man identified as 18-year-old Malik Davis of Los Angeles, but the other suspect ran away.

Porterville Police officers took Davis back to Porterville where he was booked on suspicion of commercial burglary, conspiracy, possession of burglary tools and for felony evading.  

The case is under investigation by the PPD.