The day hadn’t even started yet.  I was at my house loading up my news van (yup, I have a take home van).  My phone started ringing.   It was the assignment desk and they wanted to know if I could come in early.

I didn’t need to ask who, what, when or any of that Journalism 101 jibber-jabber.  If the station calls, I know it’s breaking news.

So, BAM!  I’m in the van and on the clock.

After a quick cell phone conversation, I get some of the details.  Not all of the details, just enough to make sure I’m headed in the right direction.

It’s a police pursuit.  It involves a stolen vehicle and from what I can hear in the background over the phone, the drivers’ behavior is very erratic.

Helicopters are in the air over the chase.  I can see where I need to go, but I’m fighting my way through the North bound traffic on the 110 Freeway.

It seems like forever, but I manage to make my way over to the Coliseum area South of USC.  The chase has moved further West and I pass other stations as I follow the choppers.

The adrenaline is really pumping right now, but it kicks into high gear when I hear on the radio that the chase has ended and the suspect is in custody.

I’m close.  Just a few blocks away, but the police have blocked off some streets and I have to work my way around to the location where the chase has ended.

I get within a block of the location and can’t go any further in the van.  The police are (bless their hearts) are filling the street and diverting traffic away from the location.

The van gets parked and I grab what I need.  The camera (of course), mic,  and run bag all make it, but I forget both the van phone and my phone (doh!).

I “rush walk” as close to the scene as I can and start recording video.  The suspect’s (stolen?) van is smashed in the middle of the street (Vermont near King).

Hee-hee, I inch closer to it and keep rolling.

A higher ranking officer notices me and not too politely asks (orders) me to clear the area.  He points out a parking lot where he wants the media to wait for a PIO to come and talk.

Crime scene tape goes up and separates me from my van.  It is at that point when I realized I forgot my phones.  Quick panic, but then peace.

No worries.

I see our reporter Dave Lopez has arrived and another one of our news vans has also arrived.

An interview with someone who saw part of the chase is shot.  We quickly turn it for air.  My fellow photographer Roger Masterton and I manage to get Dave on TV for what becomes the first of three live hits during our afternoon newscasts.

The scene is cleared.  The suspect’s vehicle is towed away and the crime tape comes down.  I manage to retrieve my van and we set up for the remaining live shots across the street where all the other media trucks are setting up.

That was the first three hours of my day and I barely remember the rest of my shift.