A Ventura County man was charged today with stealing a police vehicle and leading officers on a chase from Hollywood to the San Fernando Valley, the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office announced.

Ethan Rutland (dob 9/19/89) faces one felony count each of fleeing a pursuing peace officer's motor vehicle while driving recklessly and driving or taking a law enforcement or fire department vehicle without consent.

Rutland is expected to be arraigned today in Department 30 of the Foltz Criminal Justice Center in case BA467024. Prosecutors requested that bail be set at $150,000.

According to prosecutors, two Los Angeles Police Department officers were responding to a call of an unrelated suspect running from other officers on Vine Street toward Hollywood Boulevard just past 1 a.m. Friday. After they joined the foot pursuit, Rutland allegedly entered the patrol SUV and drove away, leading to a police chase.

The defendant allegedly drove the vehicle onto the northbound 101 Freeway and then exited in Woodland Hills, where officers stopped the SUV and arrested him, prosecutors said.

Rutland faces a maximum possible sentence of eight years in state prison if convicted as charged.

The Los Angeles Police Department's Hollywood Division is investigating the case.

Los Angeles District Attorney / case BA467024 /April 3, 2018