The stalking suspect who led police on a chase, resulting in a tense standoff on the 91 Freeway in Anaheim and the closure of all lanes in both directions Friday morning, has died.
Hours after the freeway was shut down, authorities approached the suspect’s vehicle, which was boxed in by two armored vehicles, and removed the individual from the driver’s seat.
Authorities confirmed that the suspect died by suicide. Eastbound lanes of the freeway reopened shortly after, followed by the westbound lanes.
The police chase began in Corona and ended on the freeway.
The suspect, a man in his 40s believed to be armed, remained inside a blue sedan for several hours after stopping in a westbound traffic lane. The car was boxed in by armored vehicles from the Anaheim and Corona police departments.
The closure caused miles-long traffic backups in both directions as Memorial Day travelers were on the road.
The pursuit started around 8 a.m. when officers located a stalking suspect near the intersection of McKinley Street and Griffin Way, according to a Corona police spokesperson. The suspect refused to pull over, leading to the chase that ended on the 91 Freeway near Lakeview Avenue.
Westbound traffic was diverted at Imperial Highway, while eastbound motorists were redirected onto the 55 Freeway. California Highway Patrol officers worked with individual drivers stuck between the traffic diversion and the standoff, turning vehicles around and escorting them off the freeway.
In addition to three armored vehicles, more than a dozen police and CHP cruisers responded to the barricade situation.
Two nearby schools were placed on lockdown due to the incident, Anaheim police reported. Officers were present at the campuses, coordinating with the school district, and parents were allowed to pick up their children.