A 43-year-old Orange County man could spend more than 26 years in prison for stealing Lego and leading police on a high-speed chase that ended in the death of an innocent 67-year-old woman. authorities announced Monday.
The tragic Dec. 18 incident began at an Albertsons grocery store in Fullerton when suspect Anthony Michael Hanzal, of Anaheim, stuffed a box of Lego into a bag and left the store without paying. A plainclothes police officer spotted him as he was leaving.
Officers pursued the 43-year-old man in his vehicle and requested a traffic stop on a marked patrol cruiser, according to a news release from the Orange County District Attorney’s Office.
“As a uniformed officer attempted to pull over the suspected thief in his vehicle, he made a sharp right turn toward Brookhurst.” [Road] and hurried away,” the release states.
Hanzal, who was reportedly under the influence of drugs, rear-ended a vehicle that was stopped at a stoplight at Brookhurst Road and Orangethorpe Avenue before getting onto the westbound 91 Freeway.
Authorities said the man got off at Knott Avenue in Buena Park and reached speeds of 90 mph as officers pursued him into La Palma.
Dashcam footage captures a fatal police chase on the island of La Palma on December 18, 2024. (Dean Choi) Dashcam footage captured a fatal police chase on La Palma Island on December 18, 2024. (Dean Choi) Dashcam footage captured a fatal police pursuit on December 18, 2024 on La Palma Island. (Dean Choi) An accident scene during a police pursuit where an innocent driver is killed. December 18, 2024, La Palma, California. (OnScene.TV) Crash scene after high-speed chase in Orange County. December 18, 2024. (OnScene.TV) The scene of a crash after a high-speed chase in Orange County. December 18, 2024. (OnScene.TV) December 18, 2024 at the scene of a crash where an innocent driver was killed during a police chase in La Palma, California. (OnScene.TV)
A 43-year-old man is accused of running a red light and slamming into a blue BMW at La Palma Avenue and Moody Street, instantly killing La Palma resident Marianne Casey, who was behind the wheel. are.
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A nearby security camera and another driver’s dashcam captured the moment of the collision.
“Enough is enough. Actions have consequences. Drug-addicted repeat offender steals Legos from a grocery store and leads multiple law enforcement agencies on a high-speed chase through Orange County in broad daylight that leaves an elderly woman dead. I’m angry,” Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer said. “Marianne Casey’s family should be planning a holiday celebration, but instead they are planning a funeral.”
Hanzal is formally charged with felony vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated under the influence of drugs, felony vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated, felony eluding a peace officer resulting in death, and felony petty theft with two prior convictions.
If convicted as charged, the 43-year-old, who is being held without bail, could serve up to 26 years and four months in state prison.
His next court appearance is scheduled for Jan. 26 at the North Justice Center in Fullerton.
