Panda Express arrest ends month of freeway escapes, Monrovia police say

A wanted California man who twice escaped officers by running onto a freeway apparently ran out of luck when he unexpectedly walked into a Panda Express where the same officers were eating lunch, police said.

Two attempts. Two escapes onto the freeway. Then came an unexpected third encounter.

Officers with the Monrovia Police Department recognized the man when he entered the restaurant and quickly arrested him, ending a month-long effort to take him into custody on a no-bail felony probation warrant.

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Body camera video of the incident shows two officers sitting and eating inside the restaurant before springing into action and taking the suspect, who has not been identified, to the ground.

Police said the man was wanted on a no-bail warrant for a probation violation.

The encounter unfolded July 17, but police released video of the arrest Thursday.

In the video, the suspect asks the officers, “What did I do?”

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One officer responds, “You’ve been wanted. You’ve been running from me for like a month.”

Police said officers had previously attempted to arrest the man on two separate occasions while he was out walking. Both times, he allegedly ran onto the freeway and managed to evade them.

The breakthrough came as officers were taking a lunch break at Panda Express when the wanted man “walked right up to them,” police said.

“At this point, we’re not sure if it was good police work, bad timing, or the irresistible smell of chow mein,” the department joked. “Either way, an arrest was made.”

The officers apparently didn’t let the arrest keep them from finishing lunch.

“And don’t worry the officers went back for their food and finished their chow mein,” the department said. “Priorities.”

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The Monrovia Police Department told Fox News Digital its social media post and accompanying footage constitute its public statement on the incident and that no additional information would be provided at this time.