BELL GARDENS — A 49-year-old man who police said tossed a bag of drugs out of a vehicle during a chase in Bell Gardens was behind bars Friday morning — and it was the third time police pursued and arrested him in the past six months.
Officers attempted to stop Ronald Wayne Dowell on April 1, but he refused to pull over and a pursuit ensued, according to Sgt. J. Acosta of the Bell Gardens Police Department.
During the pursuit, officers saw a white bag being thrown from the passenger side of the vehicle, and Dowell pulled over a short time later. Officers found the bag, which contained a large amount of drugs, Acosta said.
The April 1 pursuit marked the third time in the past six months Dowell led Bell Gardens police on a pursuit, said Acosta.
In October, Dowell tossed a handgun and drugs out of a vehicle window during a high-speed pursuit; and during a pursuit in January, Dowell drove on the wrong side of the road, disregarded traffic signs and tossed drugs and a gun from the vehicle during a chase, Acosta said.
Dowell is being held on $210,000 bail and is scheduled to be in court Monday to face charges associated with the April 1 pursuit. Charges are still pending at the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office for the October and January arrests, Acosta said.