Suspect 'ducts' into The Pyramid

University Police crawled through ventilation ducts in The Pyramid Wednesday afternoon in search of a suspect who allegedly burglarized a vehicle in parking Lot B of Cal State Long Beach. The Long Beach Police Department K-9 unit assisted in the nearly four-hour search, which ended after police used pepper spray to subdue the suspect, who was hiding in a crawl space above the north scoreboard.

The suspect, Terry Crymes Jr., 19, was examined at Pacific Hospital and taken into custody by Long Beach Police, then booked on charges of burglary and resisting arrest. Jerrel Lamar Jones, 20, was also arrested for burglary and receiving stolen property in the same incident.

The chase began after Sergeant Madonna Gage, responding to a suspicious persons call, stopped Crymes and Jones in their car on Meriam drive. At this time, Gage received a call about a car burglary in Lot B, and ordered the suspects out of their vehicle. Police say Crymes began pacing back and forth outside the vehicle, then suddenly assaulted Gage and fled east bound toward The Pyramid.

Gage later recovered a stolen radio and cellular phone from the suspects'car.

Investigator for the University Police John L. Bellah says community response played an important part in catching Crymes.

"We received numerous phone calls from witnesses who saw the suspect run into The Pyramid,"he said.

Officer Fernando Solorzano credited Tyrone Robinson, manager of the 49ers men's basketball team, as a big help in finding Crymes. Robinson saw Crymes run into The Pyramid and told police where he was hiding.

Robinson said he helped because he could've been the victim of the burglary. "The stuff that was stolen could've been mine,"said Robinson. "Plus, he came into our building. There was no telling what he was going to do."

Police also received help from students in the residence halls. An investigation revealed that Crymes and Jones have friends in the residence halls and are often seen around the area Police said. Police believe that the suspects may be related to other auto thefts and burglaries in the residence hall parking lots. Police are seeking a third suspect.

On Monday, the case was referred to the district attorney who will file felony charges. The suspects will be arraigned today at Long Beach Municipal Courthouse.