Suspect in Costa Mesa truck theft arrested after freeway chase
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Police arrested a man on suspicion of stealing a U-Haul truck from a Costa Mesa neighborhood and leading police on a chase, authorities said.
A man was unloading furniture from a U-Haul in the 1900 block of West 19th Street when the truck was stolen at about 1:50 p.m. Thursday, Costa Mesa police Sgt. Mike Manson said.
One of the man’s friends followed the truck and called police, Sgt. Bang Le said.
Officers began pursuing the truck on Fair Drive near Newport Boulevard and tried to pull it over, but the driver didn’t stop, Le said.
When the truck pulled onto the northbound 405 Freeway, the California Highway Patrol and a Huntington Beach police helicopter joined the pursuit, Le said.
The truck exited the freeway in Westminster and that city’s police joined the chase.
When the truck pulled into a neighborhood with a cul-de-sac near Magnolia Street and Heil Avenue, Costa Mesa police set down spike strips and the driver pulled over, Le said.
Chase Nabors, 24, of Glendale, Ariz., was arrested.
Manson said Nabors had recently become homeless after being kicked out of a drug rehabilitation center. Manson said he didn’t know whether drugs or alcohol played a role in Thursday’s incident.
Twitter: @benbrazilpilot
