Beverly Hills Police Department (BHPD) officers engaged in a nearly four hour-long standoff with a man suspected of stealing a car on April 5. The man, 29-year-old Daniel Allen of Santa Clarita, has now been charged with Felony Vehicle Evasion, Possession of a Stolen Vehicle, and Resisting Arrest. According to court records, Allen has been convicted for other crimes, including robbery, burglary, and identity theft.
Patrol officers first got the call around 4:40 p.m. that a white sedan was reported stolen within Beverly Hills. The car led police in a brief high-speed chase in the area of Wilshire Boulevard and Camden Drive. The pursuit ended with a multi-car collision on Wilshire and Doheny that sent three individuals to a local hospital, including a pedestrian who was struck while crossing the sidewalk.
Witnesses told the Courier that BHPD officers quickly surrounded the white sedan with their guns drawn. Despite repeated orders to exit the vehicle, the driver remained inside. Police soon sent in a crisis negotiation team and the Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) team. A portion of Wilshire was shut down to traffic as law enforcement attempted to negotiate with the driver. At multiple points throughout the evening, police addressed the driver over a loudspeaker, telling him that they had spoken with his family and knew he was a “good guy.” Police additionally said that if he surrendered, he would likely not remain in custody overnight.
Despite the efforts, Allen did not leave the car. He only gave onlookers and officers an occasional glimpse of his face from behind a deflated side airbag that doubled as a curtain.
After the sun had set, police began firing less lethal rounds at the car. Though they seemed to damage a rear passenger window, they did not dislodge Allen. Members of the SWAT team closed the gap between themselves and the car, driving an armored vehicle up against the sedan’s front fender. Police then inserted a “chemical irritant” through the car’s window using a long pole. With clouds of white smoke billowing out of the broken and cracked windows, Allen climbed out of the driver’s side window and surrendered to authorities.
According to Los Angeles Superior Court records matching Allen’s name and birthday, Allen has served multiple stints in state prison and county jail. In 2011, he pleaded no contest to charges of robbery; he was found guilty and sentenced to 180 days in county jail. In 2013, he was sentenced to 32 months in state prison and a year in county jail for a charge of possession of a controlled substance. Then, in 2015, he was found guilty of two counts of identity theft, burglary, and fraudulent use of a credit card; he was sentenced to 64 months in state prison and eight months in county jail.
