A group of narcotics suspects in a black truck led police on a roundabout road chase through San Diego Thursday, several times throwing money out onto roadways before finally stopping and being arrested, police said.
The pursuit began about 5 p.m. in the area of State Route 15 and Interstate 805. The fleeing driver soon exited southbound SR-15 at Ocean View Boulevard in Logan Heights and drove over various city streets before re-entering the freeway, this time heading north.
Officers chased the truck on the state route for several miles, then onto Interstate 805 through the city's central districts and into its north-coastal reaches.
In several spots -- including Serra Mesa in the area of Murray Ridge Road and Sorrento Valley near Mira Mesa Boulevard -- cash was hurled out of the truck, prompting passers-by to run onto the roadways to grab it, according to police.
At about 5:40 p.m., the fleeing driver, who may have run over a tire-flattening spike strip at some point during the chase, stopped in the middle of I-5 near State Route 56.
Officers then took the occupants of the pickup into custody, SDPD Sgt. Alan Hayward said. The suspects' names and details on their alleged crimes were not immediately available.
Nearly an hour after the pursuit began, officers were still retracing the suspects' path, collecting the scattered money.
The Drug Enforcement Agency says they have a record of all the serial numbers on the money that was tossed, and they will be able to trace the bills if they are spent. Anyone who picked up cash on the freeway is being asked to turn the money in to the police.
No one was hurt during the chase.
