Stolen Car Spotted at School Leads to Chase and 2 Arrests

A stolen white 1983 Jaguar spotted in a high school parking lot led police on a high-speed chase for 25 minutes Wednesday morning that began in Linda Vista and zigzagged through Tierrasanta and Fashion Valley before ending at a Sea World parking lot, police said.

Police spokesman Bill Robinson said the chase began in the Kearny Senior High School parking lot on the 7600 block of Wellington Way. He said records showed the car was stolen in Maryland.

The driver of the car, Samuel Lee Phillips, 23, of Baltimore, Md., and his passenger, Lewis Ross Sinclair, 29, of Hollywood, were arrested at the end of the chase in connection with auto theft and other charges, Robinson said. He said Phillips is a fugitive sought on larceny charges in Maryland.

Robinson said the route of the pursuit included California 52, California 163, Genesee Avenue and Friars Road. A police helicopter, as well as ground units, trailed the vehicle.

Kearny summer school Principal J.M. Tarvin said the car had been spotted on school property Tuesday, when one of the two men in the car asked to see a student attending Kearny High’s summer session.

Tarvin said the man’s request was refused because he did not provide sufficient identification of his relation with the student. Tarvin said he requested school security to check the license plate because of the men’s suspicious behavior. When the car was spotted again Wednesday, Harris said, San Diego police were called to the scene.

School Police Officer Richard Harris said Officer Steve James approached the vehicle about 9:25 a.m. The two men in the car rolled up the car windows, trapping James’ hand in the door and sped off, dragging James with the car, Harris said.

He said he observed the passenger in the car pointing what appeared to be a small-caliber gun at James, so Harris fired once at the fleeing car, missing the vehicle. James freed his hand and was not seriously injured, Harris said.