Inmate Caught After Fleeing, Crashing Car

An escaped jail inmate stole a car from an auto dealership Thursday, leading police on a brief chase before crashing the car and getting arrested, authorities said.

Scott Wasco, 34, who is serving a sentence at the Pitchess Detention Center for grand theft and related charges, escaped from a work crew about 4:15 p.m., according to Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Deputy Mark Bailey.

“He was on a fire-suppression work crew on Bouquet Canyon Road,” Bailey said. “He was last seen being loaded into a truck with the crew, but when they arrived back at the facility, deputies realized he was gone.”

Although deputies don’t know when or where Wasco escaped, Bailey said they do know that he jumped out of the van and somehow made his way to Magic Ford on Creekside Drive in Valencia. That’s where Wasco stole a green Ford Taurus station wagon used by the dealership to shuttle customers to cars, Bailey said.

California Highway Patrol officers spotted the car on the Golden State Freeway and followed Wasco onto the Foothill Freeway in Sylmar.

Wasco lost control and got involved in a multi-car crash on the Foothill Freeway near Roxford Street.

He ran from the vehicle and was captured a short time later by sheriff’s deputies from the Santa Clarita station, aided by the CHP and the Los Angeles Police Department.

Wasco, who was to be released from county jail on May 28, now faces felony hit-and-run, car theft and escape charges, Bailey said.