Month after freeway dog chase, suspect jumps from moving bus, dies

ANAHEIM, CA -- A bizarre story that involved several dogs running loose on the 710 Freeway following a police chase took another unusual turn, as police said the woman behind the wheel that evening jumped from a moving bus in Anaheim and later died.

Surveillance video showed 48-year-old Tiffani Tobe appearing to climb out the window of a moving bus and jumping to the street below at about 6:30 a.m. on Thursday.

Police said the incident started when Tobe refused to pay the fare.

"At some point there was a confrontation on the bus, at which point, she jumped from the bus as it was moving westbound on La Palma Avenue," Sgt. Daron Wyatt with the Anaheim Police Department said.

The video showed Tobe get up as a truck driver stopped to help her. She then ran into the street and tried to get into several moving cars.

Cellphone video from an eyewitness showed her on top of a truck at one point.

"She was involved in a confrontation with two males there and that's the point the off-duty sergeant arrived and saw that physical altercation going on," Wyatt explained.

Police said officers arrived, put Tobe in handcuffs and sat her on the curb while awaiting paramedics. Officers said Tobe hit her head when she jumped out of the bus, but was coherent.

"She was sitting there talkative, conscious, breathing, and a few minutes later, she fell over and was in full cardiac arrest," Wyatt said.

Tobe later died at the hospital. Authorities confirmed that Tobe was out on bond after leading police on a chase from the 91 Freeway in Orange County to the 710 Freeway in Long Beach in January.

MORE: 6 dogs run loose on freeway after police chase closes 710 Fwy

Along for the ride were six dogs that ran onto the freeway as Tobe surrendered. Tobe was facing charges of drunken and reckless driving and evading police.

Per protocol, the district attorney's office said it is investigating Tobe's death as an in-custody death. Authorities stated they were awaiting the results of Tobe's toxicology test.

The City of Long Beach Animal Care Services said the six dogs were made available for adoption. If you'd like to learn more, you can call animal care services at (562) 570-7387.