Auto Theft Suspect Rams Cerritos Sheriff's Patrol Car

A man who allegedly stole a van from a Cerritos parking lot Tuesday, sped past a deputy and struck his patrol car before fleeing from the area. 

The incident began when a member of the Cerritos Sheriff's Station's Residential Burglary Team spotted a man in a van driving on the wrong side of the road near 183rd Street and Carmenita Boulevard about 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, according to Cerritos Sheriff's Det. Aaron King. 

As the motorist entered the westbound Artesia (91) Freeway, the deputy attempted to catch up to the van to initiate a traffic stop. The motorist then exited the freeway at Artesia Boulevard and drove into a neighborhood, King said. 

The deputy located the van at the end of a cul-de-sac and attempted to contact the driver, who suddenly accelerated past the deputy and struck the front of his patrol car, the detective said. The deputy was not injured in the collision. 

"A search of the area was conducted, but the suspect was not located," King said.

A preliminary investigation revealed that the white van had just been stolen from the parking lot of the Infinity Insurance building located on the southwest corner of 18rd and Carmenita. The abandoned vehicle was ultimately found in a residential area nearby. 

Deputies were still trying to locate the suspect as of late Tuesday.