Man Robbed Hotel With 'Stabbing Type Instrument,' Police Say

A man suspected of an attempted robbery of Redondo Beach as well as the robbery of a hotel in Torrance on Thursday was arrested after leading police on a car chase and a manhunt on foot, police said.

The suspect's name was not immediately released.

At 2:52 p.m., the man entered the Courtyard by Marriott at 1925 190th St. and threatened the desk clerk with a "stabbing type instrument," said Lt. Mike Jezulin of the Torrance Police Department. He made off with about $500 in cash, according to Jezulin.

A few minutes later, a police officer at Artesia Boulevard and Western Avenue saw a motorist in a red sedan matching the suspect's description and tried to pull him over, but he failed to yield, Jezulin said.

The suspect got on the 91 Freeway and drove as fast as 90 miles per hour, the lieutenant said. He exited Avalon Boulevard and crashed into a pole at 135th Street in an unincorporated area near Compton, Jezulin said.

The suspect got out of the car and fled on foot, leaving behind a female passenger injured in the crash, according to Jezulin.

Police from multiple agencies searched for several hours and eventually found the suspect hiding in the bushes of a residence. He was taken into custody, and the female passenger was taken to an area hospital. It's unknown whether she had a connection to the alleged robbery, Jezulin said.

—City News Service.