Man Leads Police on Chase in Stolen Dump Truck Through Lake Elsinore, Murrieta and Temecula

A man accused of stealing a dump truck led police today on a two-hour pursuit that crossed three counties -- during which he allegedly tried to mow down a police officer -- before pulling over and trying to flee on foot.

The suspect, whose identity was not immediately released, was taken into custody around 2:40 p.m. at a gas station near Marine Corps Air Station Miramar in San Diego County.

Multiple agencies were involved in the chase, which began around 12:40 p.m. in San Bernardino County. The truck had been reported stolen minutes earlier from a business in the 6900 block of Mission Boulevard, just off state Route 60, in Jurupa Valley, according to Riverside County sheriff's officials.

They said the suspect nearly struck an Ontario police officer before fleeing back into Riverside County.

The circumstances were not entirely clear, with Ontario police officials declining to release information and referring all inquiries to the Riverside County Sheriff's Department.

Around 1:10 p.m., Riverside police officers spotted the truck in the area of Central Avenue and Van Buren Boulevard. Officers pursued the vehicle west into Norco, where the suspect attempted several times to raise the truck's back-end, possibly to frighten away patrol officers on his tail.

Riverside County sheriff's deputies took over the pursuit at Crestview Drive and Seventh Street in Norco, following the suspect as he drove onto southbound Interstate 15, where California Highway Patrol officers picked up the chase.

The truck barreled south, reaching speeds of 80 mph, before exiting into Lake Elsinore around 1:40 p.m. According to the CHP, the suspect went south on Collier Avenue, then rejoined I-15 at Main Street.

The pursuit continued south through the cities of Murrieta and Temecula, going into San Diego County at 2:05 p.m., according to the CHP.

The suspect passed through Fallbrook, Bonsall, Escondido, Rancho Bernardo, Rancho Penasquitos and Mira Mesa before exiting onto Miramar Road, the CHP reported.

He then pulled into a Shell station off Kearny Villa Road, got out of the stolen truck and tried unsuccessfully to escape on foot. Officers took him into custody there a short time later with the help of a service dog.

The suspect was treated at the scene for bite wounds.

No motorists were injured or property damaged during the chase, according to the CHP.

– City News Service.