Biker Captured After Wild Chase

HUNTINGTON BEACH — A man on a stolen motorcycle led police on an 18-mile chase at speeds of more than 100 m.p.h. along the San Diego Freeway until officers arrested him with the help of a police helicopter, police said Saturday.

David Izabal, 20, of Sepulveda, was arrested near El Toro Road off the San Diego Freeway on suspicion of auto theft, evading police and resisting arrest, said Huntington Beach Sgt. Anthony Sollecito.

The chase began about 4:35 p.m. when a motorcycle officer stopped Izabal for a routine traffic citation at the San Diego Freeway and Beach Boulevard and he fled.

During the chase, the officer was advised the suspect was driving a motorcycle stolen from Costa Mesa on July 14, Sollecito said. Within several minutes, another motorcycle officer and a Huntington Beach police helicopter joined the pursuit.

At one point, Sollecito said, the suspect drove through an opening in the freeway’s center divider, cut across and headed north.

“Then he cut back again to the southbound lanes around the area of Harbor Boulevard. At this time he was outrunning the motorcycle officers but our police helicopter stayed with him,” Sollecito said.

After losing control and crashing, Izbal was arrested behind a shopping center, Sollecito said.