Bullets Fly in 2-County Freeway Chase

Three men were arrested early Saturday after firing at pursuing police and leading Orange County sheriff’s deputies and California Highway Patrol officers in a high-speed freeway chase through two counties.

CHP Officer Bob Melton in San Diego said three CHP cruisers were hit by gunfire. One patrol car was disabled by a bullet that pierced the radiator, but no officers were injured in the chase, Melton said. Police did not return fire.

According to a CHP report, the chase began at 2:30 a.m., when an off-duty Orange County sheriff’s deputy, who was going home southbound on Interstate 405 in Irvine, saw a 1969 Chevy El Camino race by him at 95 m.p.h. The deputy was joined in chasing the speeding car by a sheriff’s sergeant.

The suspects’ car merged onto Interstate 5 and two CHP units picked up the chase in Oceanside. CHP officials said the suspects fired several shots at the pursuing officers and disabled one vehicle with a shot through the radiator. The other patrol car was not hit.

The pursuit continued into San Diego, where the suspects got on southbound Interstate 805 and then transferred to eastbound Interstate 8. In La Mesa, two more CHP units took up the chase, and the suspects fired at the two police vehicles, hitting one on the driver’s side windshield wiper and the other on the driver’s side door post.

However, both CHP vehicles continued the chase to Willows Road, near Alpine, in east San Diego County. At Willows Road, the suspects exited the freeway, turned around and got on westbound Interstate 8.

CHP officials said the speeding car then exited at Tavern Road in Alpine, where they were finally stopped by two other CHP units.

Police arrested Albert L. Miles, 34, and Norman K. Miles, 28, both of Orange County, and Samuel A. Davis, described as a transient. The three were charged with attempted murder of a peace officer, but more charges are expected to be filed against the men during the week.

Melton said police recovered five handguns, two high-power rifles, one assault rifle and two shotguns from the suspects’ car.