A man is in custody after authorities say he stole a Los Angeles Police Department patrol vehicle and drove it all the way to south Orange County. According to the LAPD, the marked cruiser was taken Wednesday night while officers were working a special event near BMO Stadium in Los Angeles. Hours later, the California Highway Patrol received a report of a suspicious police vehicle traveling south on Interstate 5 near La Paz Road in Laguna Hills. CHP officers located the cruiser and conducted a traffic stop near Ortega Highway, where the driver surrendered without incident. Investigators say the suspect was arrested at the scene, and the stolen patrol car was recovered. Both the suspect and the vehicle were turned over to the LAPD, which is now leading the investigation into how the cruiser was stolen and what charges the suspect may ultimately face. The investigation remains ongoing as detectives gather additional evidence.
