White Bentley Chase: The good, the bad & the sad of an L.A. night

Today's cuppa: Newhall Coffee Patriot Blend

Last night was a full moon in Los Angeles. It shone in a sky that cleared after thick clouds and heavy rain (and snow on the mountaintops), casting shadows across my apartment balcony as I stood and watched a strange sight go by.

A few minutes earlier, I was flipping channels on the TV when I saw that there was a police car chase in progress. Like any good Angeleno, I had to watch. Quickly I realized that the car in question -- a large, white Bentley -- was on the 405 Freeway just south of where I live.

My visiting friend and coffee mentor Scary Mary kept watch on the balcony, as I kept an eye on the TV. At the right moment, I joined her outside and saw the whole circus pass by in the distance -- at least five helicopters, along with one with a searchlight that passed right over my building, the Bentley and a trailing entourage of at least seven police cars with lights going.

"I have to Twitter this!" I said to Mary. And so I did.

Shortly after that we went back outside to a different vantage point in my building, where we could see the helicopters flying along above the 10 Freeway as the slow-speed chase proceeded downtown on its way to its ultimate and very sad conclusion at Lankershim and Cahuenga in Universal City, over in the San Fernando Valley.

That began one long, strange evening. Below find my live Twitterblog of the events, editing out replies from other Twitterers and my replies to them. For those, I refer you to my Twitter home page.

In following the chase -- I admit, journalistic instinct seized me, and I had to stay with it until the end, even though I was quite sure I didn't want to Twitter what might happen -- I went from the TV to live and back to the TV.

Then when the local channels switched off, Mary and I moved to watching the unedited chopper feed from KTTV Channel 11 on the Internet, where we saw the ultimate end of the long standoff that followed the long chase.

The whole evening was so L.A. (including, apparently, trailing paparazzi that believed singer Chris Brown might be in the car) and -- between Twitter and streaming video online -- so 21st century. It was also very sad. Click here and here for news reports that round out the story. And click here for Variety's take on the media coverage.

As always, Twitterblog is edited for accuracy and clarity and must be read from the BOTTOM UP.

·  LA no-speed chase: Air 7 has signed off. We are done here. Not what I planned to Twitterblog, but there it is. Night all. about 14 hours ago from web

·  LA no-speed chase: And since this began with a domestic violence call, hope also that situation can be resolved without further harm. about 14 hours ago from web

·  LA no-speed chase: And perhaps find charity in our hearts to say a quick prayer for the soul in the car and those who knew him or her. about 14 hours ago from web 

·  LA no-speed chase: Let us also be grateful that no law-enforcement personnel or bystanders appear to have been hurt. about 14 hours ago from web

·  LA no-speed chase: Chopper feed: "Well, Lori (Laurie?), they're gone." Let us be grateful that no innocent motorists were hurt tonight. about 14 hours ago from web

·  LA no-speed chase: Rescue vehicle quickly departing from the scene, with lights (can't tell if there's sirens). about 14 hours ago from web

·  LA no-speed chase: Apparently the tragic end of this sad tale is currently nothing but "B-roll." about 14 hours ago from web

·  LA no-speed chase: Chopper feed: "Well, they're not working on him." about 14 hours ago from web

·  LA no-speed chase: Something being removed from car -- or someone -- and put on gurney. Appears to be body on gurney. about 14 hours ago from web

·  LA no-speed chase: Chopper feed: "I'm surprised the fire department's doing this. Don't they usually (pull up???) at the corner?" about 14 hours ago from web

·  LA no-speed chase: Gurney coming out of rescue vehicle. about 14 hours ago from web

·  LA no-speed chase: Some sort of rescue vehicle/ambulance on scene. So odd to see this without anchors overtalking everything. Eerie. about 14 hours ago from web

·  LA no-speed chase: BTW, streaming video from KTTV Channel 11 http://media.myfoxla.com/li... about 15 hours ago from web

·  LA no-speed chase: Onlookers onlooking. Chopper looking at looking onlookers. about 15 hours ago from web

·  LA no-speed chase: Chopper feed: "Go back, Johnny. Go back. Oh, man." Oddly calm and quiet scene, no one rushing. about 15 hours ago from web

·  LA no-speed chase: Unedited chopper feed: "That guy killed himself. Uh. So sad." Looks like an unfortunate ending to a strange night. about 15 hours ago from web    

·  LA no-speed chase: KTLA signs off, back to KCOP's grainy video, I guess. about 16 hours ago from web

·  LA no-speed chase: KTLA anchor pretty much told viewers to go to bed if they like, and they can catch up in the morning. about 16 hours ago from web

·  @tvweek_joe Fox11 reporter said she heard (the Chris Brown rumor) from someone she believes is a paparazzi on scene. about 16 hours ago from web in reply to tvweek_joe

·  LA slow-speed chase -- live streaming video online http://media.myfoxla.com/live/ Chase in standoff? in Universal City . Tense waiting. about 16 hours ago from web

·  LA slow-speed chase: Fox11 reporters saying news orgs have agreed not to zoom in too tight on Bentley in case of unfortunate events. about 16 hours ago from web

·  LA slow-speed chase: Reporters now debating the role of citizen journalists in a republic. Heh? about 16 hours ago from web

·  LA slow-speed chase: Has anyone gotten information on the identity of the driver of the white Bentley? about 16 hours ago from web

·  LA slow-speed chase: Crazy LA night, we watched Bentley chase on TV, went outside, saw it pass by live, then went back to TV. Only in L.A about 16 hours ago from web

·  LA slow-speed chase -- live streaming video online http://media.myfoxla.com/live/ about 16 hours ago from web

·  LA slow-speed chase is now airing on KCOP, Channel 13 in L.A if you can watch online. Report is that it began as domestic-violence call. about 17 hours ago from web

·  LA slow-speed chase: Driver is heading to the 101N. Fox11 reporting that the chase began in N. Hollywood. Tweeting off to watch about 17 hours ago from web

·  LA slow-speed chase: What's the gas mileage on a Bentley? Guy's been driving for quite some time now. about 17 hours ago from web

·  Fox11 announces that CHP is taking over the LA slow-speed chase as driver passes downtown. about 17 hours ago from web

·  LA slow-speed Bentley chase: Off 10E to the 110N, could go to Pasadena or pick up 101N, hasn't exited into downtown. about 17 hours ago from web

·  @wilw Heard something about "paparazzi-style" driving by other cars on the fwy before we tuned in. Is this a celebrity of some sort? about 17 hours ago from web in reply to wilw

·  LA slow-speed Bentley chase: At least five helos, plus a spotlight, Bentley followed by at least 7 police cars. Now 10E past LaBrea. about 17 hours ago from web