EL MONTE — A West Covina man led El Monte police on high-speed chase in a stolen car before being arrested Wednesday, authorities said.
Adam Jojola, 27, was booked on suspicion of auto theft and felony evading of police following the incident, El Monte police Cpl. Aram Choe said.
Police received a report about 9:40 a.m. that a silver, 1996 Honda Civic had been stolen from the 11900 block of Deana Street, the corporal said.
“One of our detectives who happened to be in the area spotted the vehicle about half an hour later, unoccupied, in the 11600 block of Sitka (Street),” Choe said. The car was parked along the street, about half a mile away from where it was reported stolen.
The detective waited for several minutes until a man — later identified as Jojola — got into the Honda and started driving, Choe said. The detective called backup from additional officers.
When officers tried to stop the Honda, the driver failed to pull over and, “fled at high-speed,” Choe said.
Officers backed off the chase due to safety concerns after the speeding and fleeing vehicle neared Parkview Elementary School, Choe said. They lost sight of the Honda.
“About 15 minutes later, a resident called and reported that a subject who matched the description of the suspect had abandoned a stolen vehicle in the 2600 block of Cogswell (Road),” according to the corporal.
Police set up a search perimeter in the neighborhood and soon found and arrested Jojola without a struggle, Choe said.
According to Los Angeles County booking records, Jojola was being held in lieu of $75,000 bail at the El Monte Police Department’s jail pending his initial court appearance.