Man threatens life of Signal Hill fire chief, then leads police on long chase

A man allegedly threatened a fire chief in Signal Hill, then led police on a nearly 100-mile chase to Fallbrook in San Diego County before he was arrested, police said Sunday.

About 11:20 a.m., Bonsall resident Andrew Carr approached a Long Beach Fire Department employee at a Signal Hill business and made verbal threats against his life, Califoia Highway Patrol Officer Jim Bettencourt said.

Long Beach police officers gave chase as Carr fled in a Ford van and recklessly drove through Long Beach, Bettencourt said.

As the chase continued southbound on the I-15, Oceanside CHP officers took over the pursuit at Mission Avenue, he said.

Several attempts to use spike strips were unsuccessful, Bettencourt said.

Carr’s vehicle ran out of gas around 1 p.m. at Camino Del Rey and Old Highway 395 in Fallbrook, a CHP dispatcher said.

The suspect refused orders to get out of his car and continued to resist even after the driver’s side window was blown out with a bean bag shotgun, Bettencourt said.

A San Diego sheriff’s K-9 dog was deployed and helped take Carr into custody, he said.

Carr was arrested on suspicion of felony evading and resisting arrest. He was in custody at the Vista Detention Facility; additional charges are pending.