A Ventura County man was charged on April 10 with stealing a police vehicle and leading officers on a chase from Hollywood to the San Fernando Valley, the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office announced.

Ethan Rutland, 28, faces one felony count each of fleeing a pursuing peace officer’s motor vehicle while driving recklessly and driving or taking a law enforcement or fire department vehicle without consent.

According to prosecutors, two Los Angeles Police Department officers were responding to a call of an unrelated suspect running from other officers on Vine Street toward Hollywood Boulevard just past 1 a.m. Friday. After they joined the foot pursuit, Rutland allegedly entered the patrol SUV and drove away, leading to a police pursuit.

The defendant allegedly drove the vehicle onto the northbound Hollywood (101) Freeway and then exited in Woodland Hills, where officers stopped the SUV and arrested Rutland, prosecutors said.

The defendant faces a maximum sentence of eight years in state prison if convicted. The Los Angeles Police Department’s Hollywood Division is investigating the case.