Suspect leads authorities on hours-long chase from Watts to Oceanside

Wednesday, November 4, 2015
Suspect leads authorities on hours-long chase from Watts to Oceanside
A driver led authorities on an hours-long chase from Watts to Oceanside Wednesday morning, traveling at speeds as high as 100 mph, authorities said.

OCEANSIDE, Calif. (KABC) -- A driver led authorities on an hours-long chase from Watts to Oceanside Wednesday morning, traveling at speeds as high as 100 mph, authorities said.

The chase began near E. 108th Street and Compton Avenue in Watts at about 2:15 a.m. when Los Angeles police officers attempted to stop the suspect who was driving a Chevy Silverado truck with paper plates.

The suspect refused and then led authorities on a reckless, high-speed chase through numerous counties.

California Highway Patrol officers deployed their first spike strip in San Juan Capistrano but the suspect was able to avoid the spike strip and continue.

A second spike strip was deployed near the Cassidy Street off-ramp of the 5 Freeway in Oceanside at about 4:30 a.m. The suspect's two left tires were flattened, bringing the chase to a safe stop, CHP said.

The suspect was taken into custody after he stopped his pickup truck at the gore point between the north and southbound lanes of the freeway and surrendered to police.

CHP said the pickup truck did not come back as stolen. Authorities are still trying to determine why the suspect fled from police.

An officer was involved in a minor crash near the 405 Freeway and Normandie Avenue during the chase. No injuries were reported.