Tow truck driver allegedly tried to hit police officer before pursuit

A 41-year-old man who led the California Highway Patrol on a high-speed chase through Riverside and San Diego counties in a stolen dump truck Tuesday tried to run over a police officer, authorities said.

The suspect, identified as Alberto Ochoa of Riverside, was taken to a San Diego-area hospital to be treated for injuries left by a police dog that took him down when he tried to run away, said Det. Bill Russell of the Ontario Police Department.

The chase started around 12:35 p.m. after an Ontario police officer tried to stop Ochoa on the street at gunpoint. Ochoa got into the dump truck and drove toward the officer, Russell said.

Soon after, a group of CHP cruisers followed the truck as it first raced south on the 15 Freeway, then got off on California 74 in Lake Elsinore.

After driving through parts of Lake Elsinore, the truck reentered the 15 Freeway and made its way into San Diego County.

The truck then exited the freeway near Pala and drove through a gas station before reentering the southbound 15.

At multiple points during the chase, the truck’s metal container was raised and lowered.

Ochoa finally stopped outside a gas station and exited the cab of the truck. He ran inside the station near Mira Mesa, where he was detained, police said.

Russell said Ochoa is on community supervision for a previous drug conviction.

Ontario police detectives are investigating the chase.

veronica.rocha@latimes.com