SAN DIEGO (CBS 8) - California Highway Patrol officers and sheriff's deputies say they caught up to a felon who started a hot pursuit in Orange County. The high speed chase, caught on camera, ended with him nearly naked in a canyon.
CHP caught their suspect, in a stolen black Escalade, as they swarmed Scripps Poway Parkway by Interstate 15.
Authorities say it started just before 1:30 a.m. Tuesday in San Clemente. They say the suspect was casing a house for a possible burglary. He tried to ram a sheriff's deputy's vehicle and was armed and dangerous.
Chaos erupted when the suspect started speeding on the I-5 to SR-76, where he drove in the wrong lanes, then to the southbound I-15. CHP used two sets of spike strips to slow him down. He was trying to swim through water in a canyon.
The Hispanic male, in his 40's, was found by a K-9 unit wearing no pants. They wrapped him in a blanket, as he was placed into an ambulance. He suffered minor injuries.
Orange County and San Diego County sheriff's deputies helped CHP officers track down the suspect. At one point, they sent out a helicopter to scan the canyon where the man was hiding in some brush, almost nude.
Sheriff's deputies say the Escalade was stolen from Newport Beach and the man had a lengthy felony record.
He will be facing several serious charges.