2 Held in Car Theft After Freeway Chase, Crash

Two men in a stolen car led police on a chase Wednesday that ended when the suspects crashed exiting the San Diego Freeway in Long Beach, police said.

Richard Santos, 34, a transient, and Eric James Nagao, 27, of Long Beach were arrested on suspicion of auto theft.

The pursuit began about 11:45 a.m., shortly after police received a call about two men trying to steal tires from a car on the 7300 block of Murdy Circle, Huntington Beach Police Lt. Ed McErlain said.

Undercover officers arrived and saw the suspects leaving, then followed them northbound onto the freeway, he said.

A motorcycle officer intercepted the suspects on the San Diego Freeway and motioned them to the side of the road, McErlain said. The suspects halted on the shoulder near the Westminster Avenue off-ramp after the officer flashed his lights but sped away when he approached on foot, he said.

The officer got back on his motorcycle and chased the suspects, who were traveling north toward Long Beach. The suspects tried to drive onto the Long Beach Freeway but crashed into the transition ramp’s median, McErlain said.

The suspects, who were unhurt, then tried to hide in nearby bushes. One suspect was captured immediately, the other a few minutes later when a police dog sniffed him out, McErlain said.