Man Caught After High-Speed Chase Ends Near Poway

The chase ended in a canyon between Poway Road and Scripps Poway Parkway just east of Interstate 15.

A man trying to dodge arrest stripped his clothes and ran through the swampy water and brush underneath a bridge in the North County Tuesday, officials said. 

A high speed pursuit began just after 1 a.m. in Orange County and ended near Poway north of San Diego Tuesday.

The man driving a stolen car led California Highway Patrol on a pursuit that ended on Poway Road.

He got out of his car and ran across the northbound lanes of I-15, into a swampy area near the freeway.

San Diego Police joined in the pursuit and sent in K-9 officers. The man was naked when he was taken into custody around 3 a.m.

Officials identified him as 35-year-old Justin Sassilme.

Sassilme was bitten by a police dog in the pursuit. He was loaded onto a gurney and treated by emergency personnel at the scene.

The car he was driving was reported stolen Monday out of Newport Beach, police said.

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