The world had Pokémon Go fever back in 2017, and that included two LAPD officers who decided to ignore a robbery to continue their hunt for Snorlax and Togetic.
Louis Lauzan and Eric Mitchell’s story first broke last year, but now we have actual dashcam footage of their collective misadventures, and it’s a wild ride indeed. In abbreviated footage obtained by 404 Media, Mitchell and Lozano say they hope Togetic doesn’t run away as they drive the wrong way down a one-way street and make illegal U-turns.
New from 404 Media: We finally got our hands on dash cam footage of two LA cops ignoring a robbery in progress to play Pokemon Go. Shows them speeding through residential areas, driving the wrong way down a one-way street to chase Pokemon
– He took it out! one shouts https://t.co/rWI89guX5c pic.twitter.com/EMbl06vMGj
— Joseph Cox (@josephfcox) October 10, 2023
The pair actively ignored the goings-on at the local mall during their hunt, instead deciding to head to a 7-11 after finally nabbing their trophy. They were subsequently investigated by the Los Angeles Department of Internal Affairs, charged with multiple counts of misconduct, and fired.
Pokémon Go has remained popular ever since, though not as popular as it was in 2017, when the country was still in the throes of augmented reality-fueled Pokémania. It wasn’t that long ago that the mere rumor of Vaporeon was enough to cause a full-scale stampede in Central Park.
Since then, Pokémon Go has added a huge number of monsters beyond Togetic and Snorlax, as well as features like competitive battles and extensive quest lines. However, not all of the changes have been popular, leaving players at odds with developer Niantic.
If you’re still feeling Pokécurious after all these years, check out our complete guide to Pokémon Go right here.
Kat Bailey is IGN’s Director of News and co-host of Nintendo Voice Chat. Have a tip? DM her at @the_katbot.
