Shortly after 6:05 a.m., a man entered and drove off in a black-and-white Long Beach police pickup that officers were using for parking enforcement. Radio traffic captured the man speaking about family issues and saying he was going home, and an officer confirmed no weapons were in the truck. Officers located the pickup at Pacific Place and Wardlow Road, which led to a brief pursuit. The man acknowledged seeing officers and expressed reluctance about nationwide attention. An officer urged him to pull over so they could help him get home. He surrendered and was taken into custody less than 10 minutes after the theft. Police released no further suspect information.
Just past 6:05 a.m., Long Beach officers were working parking enforcement in the 800 block of West 12th Street when the man entered the pickup and drove off, said Officer Eric Stachura, a Long Beach police spokesperson. Somebody just took off with my vehicle, westbound 12th, out of sight, an officer radioed to dispatch, according to audio archives. Over the radio, the officer said no weapons were in the truck.
Officers found the truck at Pacific Place and Wardlow Road, leading to a brief pursuit, Stachura said. At one point, the man acknowledges he sees officers behind him: I don't want to do this the whole way across the United States and be on the news, you know? An officer on the radio at one point tells the man: Pull over, and we'll help you get home, OK? The man eventually did pull over, and less than 10 minutes after the pickup was stolen, taken into custody.
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