Threat of police dog takes bite out of car chase

The threat of a police dog prompted a Newport Beach man to surrender to law enforcement in Costa Mesa early Monday but not before he had led them on an hour-long chase through north Orange County.

Patrick Joseph Rizzo, 45, started the chase just after midnight near Jamboree Road and Bristol Street when Irvine police tried to pull over his silver 1990 GMC pickup, Irvine Police Lt. Rick Handfield said.

“The vehicle did not yield and, in fact, accelerated,” so officers put on their sirens and lights, he said. The driver’s response was to get on the northbound San Diego (405) Freeway.

California Highway patrol officers took over the pursuit as Rizzo headed north on the 605 Freeway, east on the Riverside (91) Freeway, then south on the Santa Ana (5) Freeway and finally south on the Costa Mesa (55) Freeway. He stopped at Newport Boulevard and 19th Street around 1:15 a.m., Handfield said.

Rizzo was driving at speeds between 60 and 70 mph as he fled police on the five freeways, Highway Patrol Officer Jennifer Hink said.

He stayed in his car for about 10 minutes, smoking a cigarette, talking on a cell phone and ignoring officers’ commands, police said.

Costa Mesa police, who brought a canine unit, “gave the announcement that ‘we will deploy the dog if you do not give up,’ and then he gave up,” Costa Mesa Police Sgt. Bob Ciszek said.

Rizzo climbed out the window of his truck and was arrested without incident on suspicion of possession of a controlled substance and drug paraphernalia, driving under the influence of drugs and alcohol, and evading arrest, Handfield said.

He is being held at the Orange County Jail. Handfield said an arraignment was not scheduled as of Monday afternoon.