2 robbery suspects at large in Athens

  

ATHENS, Calif. (KABC) -- A police pursuit ended in the arrest of two men wanted for burglary in Athens. Meantime, the search is on for two other suspects wanted for an armed robbery in the same area.

The two robbery suspects at large led authorities on a pursuit, crashed into several vehicles and hit a pedestrian near the 105 Freeway and Vermont Avenue. Police say the two men in a stolen vehicle robbed an AutoZone in the 2800 block of Imperial Highway in Inglewood at around 8 a.m. Wednesday.

"Hawthorne Police Department saw the vehicle, went into a pursuit," explained LAPD Capt. Phil Tingirides. "The pursuit exited the freeway right here and as they came across this intersection the suspect vehicle hit a pedestrian in the crosswalk, then spun out and hit another car and the vehicle was disabled."

Police say the suspects then jumped over a fence and ran into a residential neighborhood. Authorities set up a perimeter and used a K-9 unit to help them in their search of the area between 116th and 120th streets and Vermont and Hoover streets.

"When I was on Crenshaw and Imperial, I saw like seven or eight cop cars enter the freeway," said Athens resident Obie Dubose.

Los Angeles police say the innocent pedestrian who was struck was taken to the hospital and is expected to survive.

"He's in stable condition," said Tingirides. "It's not life threatening. I believe he may have some broken bones, but he's going to survive."

Authorities say they will continue their search for both suspects and the weapon. They believe one of the suspects was able to escape the perimeter.

Police say $1,700 of the stolen money was recovered from the scene of the crash.

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