Bank Robbery Suspect Held After Car Chase to Border

A suspected bank robber who led authorities on a chase from Long Beach to the Mexican border was stopped by a freeway spike strip, then dragged down by a police dog after emerging from a car, police said Thursday.

The holdup occurred about 2 p.m. at the Great Western Bank at Spring Street and Palo Verde Avenue, Long Beach police said.

When police arrived, one officer reportedly saw an armed man, who fled by car.

Officers from the California Highway Patrol and the San Diego Police Department joined the chase, authorities said.

The suspect eventually ended up on Interstate 805, where he ran over a spike strip around 3:25 p.m.

Five minutes later--with the left side of the car nearly on its rims--the driver pulled into the center median near the border. The driver, clad in a black leather jacket and gloves, emerged and threw a gun away as a duffel bag fell from the driver’s seat.

As television cameras recorded the scene, a police dog charged the driver and began biting at his left arm, bringing the man to his knees. Officers then took the suspect into custody. His name was not immediately released.