May 29 -- A man was arrested in Rancho Penasquitos on Memorial Day on suspicion of a series of incidents including reckless driving, starting a brush fire and attempting to run over a firefighter.
According to the California Highway Patrol, a report of a reckless driver on state Route 76 near Cole Grade Road came in at about 2:30 p.m.
The driver reportedly was in a blue Toyota RAV4 sports utility vehicle and had been seen unsafetly passing vehicles and speeding in the area.
The SUV crashed and started a brush fire, and a Cal Fire crew responded to fight the blaze.
When the crew arrived, the driver fled the scene in the SUV, almost striking a firefighter, according to the CHP report.
The SUV continued westbound on SR-76, and CHP officers caught up with it and attempted to pull the driver over near McGee Road. The driver refused, and a pursuit ensued.
The chase continued from SR-76 onto southbound Interstate 15. The SUV exited at Camino del Norte, heading east. After running two red lights, officers discontinued the pursuit for safety reasons, but a police helicopter continued the pursuit from overhead.
The driver stopped at 3:11 p.m. and CHP officers in communication with the helicopter were lead to its location on Carmel Mountain Road near Freeport Road.
After a short foot pursuit, the driver was arrested under suspicion of driving under the influence of a drug and felony evading charges.
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