Man flees traffic stop, leads police on high-speed chase in South Bay

SAN DIEGO (CNS) – A man who refused to yield for a traffic stop Tuesday led
officers on a high-speed chase from San Ysidro to Otay Mesa, where he pulled
over and managed to run across Interstate 805 unscathed before being arrested
in a neighborhood about a mile from the busy freeway, authorities said.

The pursuit began shortly after 2:30 p.m., when the driver of a maroon
2000 Acura four-door sedan ran a stop sign at Camino de la Plaza and San Ysidro
Boulevard, according to San Diego police.

The driver, later identified as 23-year-old Christopher Elvonne Bell
Jr., allegedly sped off when an officer tried to pull him over, SDPD public-
affairs Lt. Kevin Mayer said.

The fleeing motorist, who had two passengers in the car with him, fled
to the north on the interstate for several miles. He then exited, stopped
behind a Home Depot store in the 900 block of Dennery Drive, got out and ran
off, Mayer said.

Officers took his companions, another 23-year-old man and a 17-year-old
girl, into custody at the spot where the vehicle chase ended. Bell, meanwhile,
ran across the nearby freeway to the west.

Officers fanned out through areas on the other side of the expressway,
eventually finding the suspect in the 4000 block of Palm Avenue and arresting
him about 4:15 p.m., Mayer said.

Bell was expected to be booked into county jail on suspicion of felony
evasion of police, reckless driving and driving on a suspended license.

It was unclear if the two detained passengers would face any charges.