California High-Speed Chase Nets Bank Robbery Suspect
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deeepblue/iStockphoto/Thinkstock(LOS ANGELES) — Authorities say they netted a “big fish” on Thursday after a high-speed chase over four Southern California freeways ended in surrender.
Police said they originally thought the driver of a white flatbed truck who led them on a 90-minute chase Thursday was a common thief, accused of ripping off a local business.
Instead the suspect was identified as Stephen Richard Bartlett, 53, also known as the “Hills Bandit,” an alleged bank robber wanted by the FBI and reportedly tied to 13 robberies since May.
“He is a big fish,” said Stephen May, special agent with the FBI, Bank Robbery Division.
The chase started Thursday morning, according to ABC News’ Los Angeles affiliate KABC-TV, when a commercial steel business in Santa Fe Springs reported possible fraud involving a $12,000 order of steel to police.
When police tried to stop the driver of the truck carrying the steel, he allegedly failed to stop and a police pursued him. The driver not only drove the wrong way against traffic; he also reportedly tried to scale a fence and pulled a U-turn on a busy freeway, according to police.
The chase ended with the truck jumping an embankment and then crashing.
Bartlett, who was hospitalized for minor injuries, faces charges that include felony theft and felony evading.
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