Police chase ends with an arrest A...

Police chase ends with an arrest

A man suspected of driving a stolen car led Laguna Beach police on

a high-speed chase that ended with a crash and his arrest on

Saturday.

Simone Paul Khein, 28, of Laguna Niguel was pulled over on

suspicion of a traffic violation near the intersection of Forest

Avenue and South Coast Highway at about 12:20 p.m. Saturday, police

said. The officer ran Khein’s license plate number after making the

stop, and as he walked toward the car, a dispatcher notified the

officer that the 1995 Volkswagen Jetta had been reported stolen.

After hearing the dispatcher’s information, the officer pointed

his pistol at Khein, ordered him to put his hands up and called for

backup, Sgt. Darin Lenyi said. Khein refused to obey commands to keep

his hands in the air and sped off.

“[The officer] ran back to his police car and the pursuit was on,”

Lenyi said.

Khein raced down South Coast Highway through Dana Point and into

Laguna Niguel, and speeds climbed to more than 100 mph, police said.

More police from Laguna Beach and the Orange County Sheriff’s

Department joined the chase, which ended when Khein crashed into a

minivan near Golden Lantern and Hidden Hills Road in Laguna Niguel.

No one was hurt in the crash, and Khein tried to run away before he

was caught at about 12:40 p.m.

Khein was booked on suspicion of knowingly possessing stolen

property and evading a police officer with disregard to public

safety.