San Diego

Police Pursue Stolen Car Through North County, 2 Detained

A man and a woman were arrested near the Oceanside Pier early Monday after a police pursuit of a suspected stolen vehicle through the North County, police said. 

The chase started at about 3:30 a.m. on northbound Interstate 5 near Lomas Santa Fe when officers spotted a reported stolen Volkswagen Beetle, the Oceanside Police Department said. 

The driver of the vehicle did not pull over and instead took off northbound. Eventually, the chase reached Oceanside and the car changed directions, heading southbound on I-5, OPD said.

Once reaching Leucadia, the car changed directions again and headed back towards Oceanside. 

California Highway Patrol officers and a San Diego County Sheriff's Department helicopter were called in to assist during the pursuit.

Once the pursuit reached Carlsbad, spike strips were deployed and the Beetle was partially disabled. 

The driver continued on for several more miles before exiting Harbor Drive. The chase came to a close near the Oceanside Amphitheater, next to the Oceanside Pier. 

The two people inside the vehicle were detained at about 4 a.m.

The couple faces charges of evading police and may face charges of vehicle theft.

SDPD was questioning the individuals to determine if they were indeed connected to the vehicle theft because the thieves were masked at the time, OPD said.

The car was stolen by two masked individuals early Sunday in Oceanside while a man was sleeping inside the vehicle, the victim told OPD. He received minor injuries but refused medical treatment. 

No other information was available.

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