Woman arrested after hours-long chase ends in San Diego County

LONG BEACH, Calif. (KABC) -- Authorities chased a suspect through freeways and surface streets in parts of Los Angeles and Orange counties before ending in a San Diego County neighborhood early Monday morning.

The pursuit originated off De Soto Avenue in Woodland Hills around 4:12 a.m. when the driver was speeding and weaving erratically, authorities said.

The female suspect got onto the 101 Freeway at some point and led authorities out to Long Beach, exiting near Ocean Boulevard. For a while, the suspect drove erratically through surface streets, but traveled about 60 mph or less. At times, the driver made stops in the middle of the road before speeding off again.

"(She) would get up to 100 mph so it was reckless. But then she would slow down so it was bizarre," said Officer Edgar Figueroa with the California Highway Patrol.

CHP officers then followed the suspect onto the 710 and 405 Freeways, heading from Long Beach out to Orange County.

The suspect continued to travel at high speeds on various freeways, eventually leading CHP officers into Oceanside in San Diego County. The driver exited the freeway onto surface streets, barely missing crashing into other cars at busy intersections.

Eventually the suspect drove through a residential area in Fallbrook. Officers attempted four pit maneuvers, but the woman was able to evade each one before she was finally stopped in a cul-de-sac.

Authorities got out of their cars, guns drawn, and took her out of the car. She was handcuffed and taken into custody.

"She might be under the influence of alcohol or drugs, and they are investigating that currently," Figueroa said.

The woman's identity was not released, but authorities did say she is from Bellflower.