Stolen SUV suspect detained in Santa Ana following hour-long chase

An auto theft suspect led police through traffic Thursday on the 55 Freeway and surface streets in downtown Santa Ana before he was arrested.

Officers responding to reports of a possible robbery at about 4 p.m. encountered a man in what was later confirmed to be a stolen 2002 Chevy Tahoe, according to Santa Ana police Cpl. Anthony Bertagna.

He said that when police attempted to stop the vehicle, the suspect sped away along West 1st Street, occasionally driving toward oncoming traffic, before merging onto southbound lanes of the freeway.

More than 10 police vehicles and an Orange County Sheriff’s Department took part in the chase.

Authorities did not immediately release the name of the suspect of further information regarding the incident.