Authorities have apprehended 47-year-old Alfredo Estrada of Santa Ana following a high-speed chase through multiple regions of San Diego County. Estrada, who is suspected of commandeering a white Cadillac SUV, was captured after a pursuit on Friday, according to the California Highway Patrol (CHP).
The chase began around 5:04 p.m. when CHP units took over the pursuit on Interstate 5 southbound, north of Las Flores Creek, and continued as the suspect reached Del Mar Heights Road, CHP official Salvador Castro reported.
Estrada then drove onto Interstate 805 southbound, where an incident involving an unidentified black vehicle attempting to force the stolen SUV off the road was reported. The pursuit transitioned to surface streets in the Kearny Mesa and Serra Mesa areas, finally culminating in a residential area of Linda Vista.
In an attempt to evade capture, Estrada maneuvered the vehicle erratically around the Fashion Hills community before hitting a spike strip deployed by law enforcement. This intervention led to the SUV crashing into a tree and rolling down an embankment near an apartment complex.
Estrada abandoned the crashed vehicle and fled on foot, enduring a fall down a hill during the pursuit but continued to escape until CHP officers managed to encircle and detain him at approximately 6:25 p.m.
During the course of the incident, residents of the affected complex reported disturbances, including the sound of sirens and a law enforcement helicopter. A resident, Andrea Lapuz, recounted a misdirected police dog attack on a non-involved individual.
As of this report, CHP has not provided further details regarding the incident with the police canine. Estrada, after receiving medical clearance, has been booked into San Diego County Jail.
