San Diego

An escapee from a federal prison in California touched off a wild chase in Mission Valley Wednesday afternoon before being apprehended by San Diego police, a Police Department spokeswoman reported. Wayne Sherman Ross, 29, was stopped at Mission Center Road and Camino del Rio South by police carrying a federal warrant for his arrest. As the officers approached Ross’ van, the spokeswoman said, he attempted to run them over. An officer fired shots through the van’s windshield as Ross attempted to flee the scene, and the van crashed into a center divider at the intersection.

Police said Ross, who was not injured by the shots, attempted to grab several people whose cars were trapped in the ensuing traffic jam before he was apprehended. The spokeswoman did not know which prison Ross had escaped from. He was being held without bail in the San Diego County Jail.