Man Suspected As 'Hills Bandit' Nabbed After Pursuit Through Several Counties
WHITTIER (CBSLA.com) — Authorities say a man suspected of robbing several banks was arrested Thursday after leading police on a pursuit along several freeways across three Southland counties.
The man, who authorities identified as Stephen Richard Bartlett, was initially wanted on suspicion of stealing steel valued at thousands of dollars, as well as for failing to return a rented white construction pickup.
The chase unfolded just before noon on the 57, 60 and 215 freeways and ended when the driver lost control of the vehicle, which tumbled down an embankment.
With guns drawn, police surrounded the truck. However, even after the dramatic rollover, the driver managed to extricate himself from the vehicle.
The chase lasted for more than one hour. When it started, police said, Bartlett threw a handgun out of the vehicle; the firearm was later recovered by officers.
At one point, Bartlett got out of the pickup and tried to climb a fence on the freeway. He then returned to the vehicle minutes later, driving for a short time in the wrong direction before making a U-turn and continuing on the freeway.
"At least on one occasion, we discontinued the pursuit for the safety of the public and decided it would be better for us to back out. We did have an airship, a unit up above following and was monitoring him," an officer with the California Highway Patrol said.
As the pursuit wound through surface streets in the Inland Empire, the driver caused two wrecks, authorities said.
"One of the collisions that occurred did involve a California Highway Patrol vehicle," the officer added.
After the driver lost control and careened into an embankment, he was arrested. Police first cuffed him and then put him onto a stretcher.
He was taken to a hospital to be evaluated.
Bartlett is accused of robbing a number of banks and will likely be charged with those crimes as well, police said.
