Two held in separate car chases
By Larry Altman, Staff Writer
Posted: 02/13/2009 11:33:25 PM PST

Police said Friday that officers have arrested two men who led them on separate high-speed chases in stolen cars, one crashing onto a Torrance school's grounds and the other speeding so fast he initially got away.

Torrance police arrested Allan Isaac Garcia, 20, of Long Beach shortly after 1 a.m. Friday when he crashed into a block wall outside a home in the 18700 block of Doty Avenue.

Redondo Beach police arrested Scott Allen Smith, 30, of Torrance on Thursday afternoon when he ran from his crashed car into Chicago For Ribs on Pacific Coast Highway.

For Smith, it was the second chase in less than a day.

Smith eluded capture about midnight Wednesday when he drove at speeds greater than 100 mph, Redondo Beach police Sgt. Phil Keenan said.

A patrol sergeant recognized Smith at the wheel of a white Mercedes-Benz S550. Smith was wanted on a warrant alleging he committed spousal abuse, Keenan said.

"Smith is a guy we believe is responsible for stolen cars," Keenan said.

The sergeant tried to pull him over, but Smith sped away.

"They get in pursuit of him, and he was going way over 100 mph," Keenan said. "That car is a high-end Mercedes 550, capable of very high speed."

The chase went north on Lenore Street and onto Lee Street, south on Palos Verdes Boulevard and west on Sepulveda Boulevard.

"They just could not keep up with the 100-plus," Keenan said.

On Thursday, detectives spotted Smith again, this
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time in a gray Mercedes, in the Thai Thani restaurant parking lot on Pacific Coast Highway and Avenue D.

Smith took off, speeding toward Palos Verdes Boulevard, where he hit a curb, damaging a wheel. He ran from the car into the rib restaurant and was arrested.

Keenan said the Mercedes he was driving was reported stolen. They believe the one involved in the first chase also was a stolen vehicle, Keenan said.

"This guy is such a reckless driver," Keenan said. "That was right at the beginning of rush hour. It could have been horrific."

Smith was arrested on suspicion of auto theft, having a suspended driver's license and for the spousal abuse warrant. Bail was set at $85,000.

In the chase early Friday, Torrance officers tried to pull Garcia over for a traffic violation just after 1 a.m. at Artesia Boulevard and Prairie Avenue.

Garcia took off in the 1993 Honda Civic, driving onto 184 th Street and crashing through a fence surrounding Magruder Middle School.

"It went into the school and exited the school through a fence onto Prairie," Torrance police Sgt. Bernard Anderson said.

Garcia drove at high speed, raced at two police cars in his path, and headed east on 190 th Street. He lost control and crashed into a wall in the 18700 block of Doty Avenue.

Garcia was arrested on suspicion of auto theft, assault with a deadly weapon and possession of counterfeit money.

larry.altman@dailybreeze.com

http://www.presstelegram.com/news/ci_11703726

 

why is the bail set at $85,000? possible serial thief driving a benz funded by all stolen cars...probably has that much in cash stashed under his mattress

 

you know this guy is getting mad amounts of time

"Garcia was arrested on suspicion of auto theft, assault with a deadly weapon and possession of counterfeit money."

 

Unfortunatly if it was just his first crime he will not get any prison time. More than likely a county Lid if his public pretender does a good job.

Besides that atleast 1 more is down, hopefully it keeps him down.

 

i wounder if that ****er took my civic ! they should find out where they are keeping all the cars

 

http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm...endID=47855613

 

up

 

 

bumpp

 

bump cuz theives suck *****!!!!

 

It's always a good thing when thieves are caught...I am mad the dude that hit the wall didn't die...

 

you don't have to hope. he'll be down for a long time. once you're a felon, it's going to be hard to get a job...you can count on this happening again!

 

wow thats come crazy shyt

 

damn. "tiny locos gang!" careful!

 

Insane Midget Gang Dawg.

 

man f*** all the theives in here long beach, eat a di*k

 

one down many to go! =/ i wonder if that 93 honda civic was a hatch and who it belong to

 

We should make a thread with all the theives that we got there photo and myspace page and I'll make a thread and sticky it at the top. So we can keep a look out.

 

damn and i know all those places....good ****!

 

there should be a page strickly for stolen cars

 

i hope that foo that stole the civic hit the wall hard enough

 

is that his page?

under occupation it says "If you know me than you know what i do"

damn. no shame.

 

yep thats his page

 

people gotta know

 

damn there was one here awhile back....before the new software.