Police Arrest Alleged Car Thief After Chase

A Rancho Santa Margarita man was arrested Monday night after he allegedly stole a car from a man in a supermarket parking lot and led police on a chase until he crashed on Interstate 5.

The car thief reportedly surprised Amril Patel, 37, of Lake Forest about 7:45 p.m. as he started to get into his car in the Vons parking lot on El Toro Road, Sheriff’s Lt. Jay Mendez said. The thief ripped the keys from Patel’s hand, pushed him backward and jumped into the car and took off, Mendez said.

A sheriff’s deputy saw the car driving without its lights on. The driver refused to stop and the chase began, reaching a top speed of 85 m.p.h., Mendez said. After speeding on several surface streets, the driver went south on El Toro Road and entered the southbound freeway, Mendez said.

Minutes later, the driver apparently lost control and crashed into the center divider near Oso Parkway. Although he was trapped and needed to be cut out by the county Fire Department, he suffered only a minor elbow injury, Mendez said.

The suspect, Brian Mueller, 25, was arrested on suspicion of robbery by force and evading arrest, Mendez said.