A 19-year-old man led Los Angeles police on an hour-long dirt bike chase on Wednesday that began in northeast L.A. and ended with him attempting to disappear into a recycling bin in South L.A.
Christian Fuentes, who was celebrating his 19th birthday, according to his jail booking information, began his impromptu tour of the city around 5:40 p.m. The Los Angeles Police Department initiated the pursuit near Cabot Street and Blake Avenue, north of Elysian Park, after receiving reports of a man with a gun on a dirt bike.
Helicopter footage from local news affiliates captured the blue motorcycle speeding across surface streets. The rider, wearing a mask, often appeared to be engaged in conversation on his phone, and at one point, was even seen standing up on his bike during the high-speed pursuit. One wonders what exactly he was discussing while being tailed by law enforcement across the city.
The chase took a turn for the truly unique when Fuentes stopped at a gas station. He seemed to use the “tap” feature on his phone to pay for fuel, only to suddenly drive off without removing the nozzle from the tank. The hose, predictably, tore free from the pumping station, adding felony vandalism to the evolving situation.
Later, the ride continued into Athens Park, a bustling public space filled with children. Fuentes made several circles through the park as police closed in, before once again speeding away. At another point, he stopped in a different park, grabbed a large container filled with liquid, and poured its contents into his gas tank, presumably for a refill on the go.
The pursuit concluded around 6:45 p.m. in the Broadway-Manchester neighborhood, northeast of where the 105 and 110 freeways intersect. Fuentes ditched his stolen dirt bike and attempted to evade officers on foot, leaping over a fence before making an unconventional choice: jumping into a recycling bin. His attempt at concealment was brief. He soon emerged, put his hands up, removed his mask, and walked backward with a noticeable limp toward the gathering police officers.
Police confirmed the dirt bike had been stolen. Fuentes was subsequently booked on charges of felony vandalism, vehicle theft, and felony evading. While the initial report involved a man with a gun, police stated they did not find a weapon on him but believe he discarded it near the beginning of the chase. The gun has not been recovered.
