Law enforcement officers search a storm drain on Esperanza Avenue for a burglary suspect after a pursuit that ended near the San Gabriel River and Whittier Boulevard on Wednesday September 2, 2015. (Photo by Keith Durflinger/Whittier Daily News)
PICO RIVERA >> A SWAT team launched a subterranean search after a burglary suspect led deputies on a pursuit from Diamond Bar to the Whittier area, then abandoned his SUV and fled into the storm drain system along the San Gabriel Riverbed, authorities said.
The incident began about 12:15 p.m. with a report of a burglary in the 800 block of Pantera Drive in Diamond Bar, where a man was seen in one of the houses, according to Lt. John Saleeby of the sheriff’s Walnut-Diamond Bar station.
He said deputies later spotted the suspect’s sport utility vehicle and chased the suspect.
The driver exited the 605 Freeway and drove through the riverbed in Pico Rivera, officials said. Deputies said the suspect ran from the SUV south of Whittier Boulevard and ran into a nearby drainage pipe.
Deputies cordoned off the area and summoned a SWAT team to assist in the search, sheriff’s Sgt. Andrew Serrano said. Aerial footage from the scene showed the SWAT team arriving via helicopter.
Aided by public works officials, deputies checked manhole covers as they worked to determine where the drainage pipes lead, and where the fleeing suspect had gone. The area is surrounded by residential neighborhoods.
The suspect had not been seen with a weapon, Serrano said. A detailed suspect description was not available.
— Staff writer Brian Day contributed to this report.
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