Man captured in 91 Freeway standoff is not Arizona serial-killing suspect

CORONA — Phoenix police tell City News Service their search for a serial killer and the man stopped following a pursuit from Costa Mesa are unrelated.

A CHP official in Riverside is working to confirm reports the man arrested had a pellet gun.

The man, who was initially man reported to match the description of a serial killer linked to seven Arizona deaths, was taken into custody today in Corona following a pursuit and subsequent standoff with authorities.

At 12:54 a.m., the Califoia Highway Patrol received reports that Costa Mesa police were pursuing a white Subaru on the San Diego (405) Freeway north of Harbor Boulevard, CHP Officer Dan Olivas told City News Service.

The pursuit also spaed the San Gabriel River (605) and Riverside (91) freeways, ABC7 reported.

The CHP joined in the pursuit, along with other agencies, until a standoff ensued at 2:05 a.m. on the westbound 91 east of South Promenade Avenue, Olivas said.

The driver refused to comply with officers ordering him to surrender, Olivas said.

Authorities shut down the freeway at both ends and summoned SWAT officials from the Corona Police Department, Olivas said.

The standoff ended when suspect, clad in a light blue T-shirt and black shorts, threw down a weapon he had, raised his hands and surrendered to police.

Officials initially received a report that the suspect matched a description of a serial killer authorities in Arizona were seeking, and the CHP was contacting Phoenix police in the matter, Olivas said.

But later reports indicated that the man arrested in Corona is not a suspect in the Arizona killings.

The freeway reopened shortly before 5 a.m.

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