Two Held After Chase Leads to Car Crash, Fire
Two men led police on a high-speed chase early Saturday that ended in Hollywood when the stolen sports car they were driving slammed into a building and ignited a $600,000 fire, police said.
Officers pulled Curtis Johnson, 18, and his cousin, Carlos Johnson, 19, both of Los Angeles, from the burning Corvette shortly before its gasoline tank exploded, police said.
The Johnsons were booked on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon and auto theft, police said. They allegedly stabbed Martin Sheldon, 27, of North Hollywood, in the back as he made a telephone call at a gas station and sped off in his 1980 Corvette.
Officers in a passing patrol car pursued the Corvette. The stolen auto failed to make a sharp turn and crashed into a building at 4439 Fountain Ave., igniting a fire that destroyed a liquor store, beauty salon, antique store, lamp shop, video rental store and gift shop, police said.
Fifteen Los Angeles Fire Department companies controlled the blaze in one hour. One firefighter suffered a minor hand injury.
Sheldon was in serious condition at County-USC Medical Center, a hospital spokeswoman said.
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