SAN CLEMENTE : Gunman Seized in Wild Chase on I-5

A man who police said was driving a stolen car led authorities on a chase from San Diego to a residential area of San Clemente on Thursday, forcing several cars off the road and taking a hostage at gunpoint before finally surrendering.

The pursuit began shortly after 11 a.m. in San Diego after police noticed a 1990 Pontiac with commercial license plates in a motel parking lot, San Diego police spokesman Bill Robinson said.

A check on the plates revealed that they had been lost or stolen from a Pontiac dealership in Riverside, and Robinson said the car was also determined to be stolen.

Officers gave chase after the man, later identified as Scott D. Cline, 25, of Riverside, emerged from the motel and drove off in the car. Cline led police onto the northbound Interstate 5, driving at speeds of up to 90 m.p.h., Robinson said.

With three California Highway Patrol units also in pursuit, Cline left the freeway at Avenida Magdalena, then proceeded north on El Camino Real into downtown San Clemente, CHP spokesman Jerry Bohrer said.

The Pontiac forced several motorists off the road as it jumped the center divider on El Camino Real, but there were no injuries, Bohrer said.

Cline then made an abrupt U-turn and swung into a residential area. After stopping the car, he got out and grabbed Anaheim resident Ruben Sotelo, 25, who was about to get into his own car, Bohrer said.

“He threw his arm around Sotelo’s neck, jammed a .45 automatic against his head and proceeded to force him across the lawn” of a home in the 200 block of Avenida Aragon, Bohrer said.

Cline turned and pointed his gun at one of the CHP officers, who fired a round at him but missed, Bohrer said.

After repeated warnings from officers to release his hostage, Cline let Sotelo go, said “Don’t kill me!” twice and threw down his weapon, Bohrer said. His gun turned out to be unloaded.

Cline was arrested on suspicion of grand theft auto, kidnaping, assault with a deadly weapon, evading arrest and reckless driving, Bohrer said.