Crash Ends 100-M.P.H. Chase of Stolen Car : Pursuit: Suspected thief is held after squad cars and police helicopter follow from Huntington Beach to Santa Ana.

An Azusa man led police on a chase in a stolen car, reaching speeds in excess of 100 m.p.h., before crashing into a light pole in Santa Ana, police said Friday.

Police arrested Steve Martin Brewer, 22, who had fled from the scene of the crash and was found hiding behind a liquor store in the 700 block of Harbor Boulevard, said Huntington Beach Lt. Jeff Cope.

The chase began at 9:22 p.m. Thursday when a traffic officer attempted to stop a motorist for excessive speed on Beach Boulevard at Heil Avenue, Cope said.

The driver would not stop and instead sped up to evade the officer, Cope said.

The chase took police officers, including a Costa Mesa police helicopter, through Huntington Beach, Westminster and unincorporated areas before the man lost control of the car while turning right onto Harbor in Santa Ana.

During the chase, Brewer allegedly ran through “numerous traffic signals,” at speeds of more than 100 m.p.h., Cope said.

The car was stolen from the Urcarco used car lot, 17451 Beach Blvd., Huntington Beach, about 7:30 p.m., Cope said.

Brewer was arrested on suspicion of grand theft and evading police, which is a felony, Cope said.

He was taken to the Huntington Beach City Jail and held on $10,000 bail.