—City News Service
An auto theft suspect who refused to yield to a California Highway Patrol officer Friday on Interstate 15 near Lake Hodges led a brief pursuit that ended when he got into a collision in front of Westfield North County mall and escaped on foot.
The chase began in the Rancho Bernardo area shortly after 10 a.m., according to the California Highway Patrol.
The fleeing man sped to the north for a short distance before exiting onto East Via Rancho Parkway in southern Escondido, where the stolen Honda Civic he was driving smashed into another car, CHP public-affairs Officer Tommy Doerr said.
A that point, the suspect, who appeared to be in his 20s or 30s, got out and ran off into a parking lot at the nearby shopping center. Officers fanned out through the area in search of him.
No injuries were immediately reported.
Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.
