Ventura officers find stolen car, arrest 1

Ventura police chased a stolen vehicle Saturday afternoon, eventually catching the driver at gunpoint, authorities said.

Police said they started the pursuit shortly after 1 p.m., when they spotted a car that had been reported stolen.

The car was turning west onto Harbor Boulevard toward California Street. Police said they followed it when it entered southbound Highway 101 at California Street, where it was involved in a minor hit-and-run collision, according to Cmdr. Tom Higgins of the Ventura Police Department. 

During the highway pursuit, police said the vehicle reached speeds of up to 100 mph.

It was involved in a second crash at the interchange of Highways 101 and 126, where it rolled down the embankment, authorities said. The vehicle received moderate damage from the two crashes, police said.

The driver exited the vehicle and fled on foot toward Arundell Avenue near Main Street, police said. Officers engaged in a brief pursuit on foot until they caught the driver at gunpoint and took him into custody, police said.

Further information was not available.