San Diego

A San Diego police officer put his cruiser in the path of a runaway car Tuesday after its driver jumped out of the moving vehicle in an effort to evade police, officials said. The wayward car was headed toward a crowded schoolyard.

Officer Boyd Long let the driverless car ram his cruiser shortly after noon at 24th and J streets, said San Diego Police Capt. Dick Toneck. The runaway car was headed toward the Sherman Elementary School playground half a block away, which was filled with children, Toneck said.

The 15-year-old driver was arrested after a brief foot chase. The teen-ager, a student at Memorial Junior High School, was booked on suspicion of auto theft, Toneck said.

The incident began at 12:09 p.m. at 21st and K streets when the juvenile failed to yield to another police cruiser, according to Toneck. When the pursuit reached 24th and J, the boy jumped from the stolen car, Toneck said.