A California man wanted on a felony probation warrant managed to elude police twice by bolting onto a freeway, authorities said. But his luck appeared to run out when he unknowingly walked into a Panda Express where the very same officers were having lunch.
Two freeway escapes had kept him out of custody. A chance restaurant encounter finally brought the pursuit to an end.
According to the Monrovia Police Department, officers immediately recognized the man when he entered the fast-food restaurant and moved quickly to arrest him, concluding a monthlong effort to apprehend him on a no-bail felony probation warrant.
Body camera footage shows Monrovia officers taking a wanted man to the floor inside a California Panda Express after police said he previously escaped them twice. (Monrovia Police Department)
Body camera footage released by police shows two officers seated inside the restaurant eating before they suddenly get up, confront the suspect and take him to the ground. Authorities have not publicly identified the man.
Police said he was being sought on a no-bail warrant tied to a probation violation.
The arrest happened on July 17, though the department did not release the video until Thursday.
In the footage, the suspect can be heard questioning the officers, asking, “What did I do?”
Body camera video shows Monrovia police officers eating at a Panda Express moments before a wanted man unexpectedly walked into the restaurant, authorities said. (Monrovia Police Department)
One officer responds, “You’ve been wanted, you’ve been running from me for like a month.”
Police said officers had previously attempted to arrest the man on two separate occasions while he was out walking. Both times, he allegedly ran onto the freeway and managed to evade them.
The breakthrough came as officers were taking a lunch break at Panda Express when the wanted man “walked right up to them,” police said.
“At this point, we’re not sure if it was good police work, bad timing, or the irresistible smell of chow mein,” the department joked. “Either way, an arrest was made.”
The officers apparently didn’t let the arrest keep them from finishing lunch.
“And don’t worry the officers went back for their food and finished their chow mein,” the department said. “Priorities.”
A wanted man was taken into custody after unexpectedly walking into a Panda Express where Monrovia police officers were eating, authorities said. (Monrovia Police Department)
The Monrovia Police Department told News Outlet that its social media post and accompanying footage constitute its public statement on the incident and that no additional information would be provided at this time.
