High-speed chase ends with 3 arrested

A dangerous, high-speed pursuit that began Friday night somewhere north of San Diego County ended near Mission Valley with authorities taking three people from the fleeing SUV into custody.

The incident began around 8 p.m. somewhere in Orange County or Los Angeles County, though the exact location where it started was not immediately clear.

At least one person in the vehicle was reportedly suspected in connection with the thefts of catalytic converters.

Helicopter footage showed the white Chevrolet SUV traveling at high speeds on Interstate 5 in Orange County and weaving through traffic with its headlights turned off. Someone in the vehicle was reportedly throwing auto parts from the moving SUV as it sped along.

The driver eventually led California Highway Patrol officers south into San Diego County on Interstate 5 and then Interstate 805 at speeds of more than 100 mph, according to emergency radio communications.

Just after 9:15 p.m., authorities successfully deployed a spike strip near state Route 52, though the driver was able to continue several more miles, even as the front tire of the SUV began to shred and fall apart, heading south to east Interstate 8. The pursuit ended when the driver headed south on northbound Interstate 15 and then came to a stop.

Three people ran from the vehicle around 9:25 p.m., taking cover in the brush alongside the freeway. Footage from Onscene TV showed Highway Patrol officers eventually took all three people — two women and one man — into custody.

No other details about the incident were immediately available.