Car Chase Leads to Balboa Park Hunt

One suspect was in custody and police were looking for two others in a canyon near Balboa Park late Friday night after a brief car chase in which the suspects shot at pursuing officers, breaking the windshield of one police car.

The incident began shortly after 9 p.m., when police began chasing the three men after a holdup at a bank ATM machine in Hillcrest.

The suspects were chased on California 163 and on streets near Balboa Park. Several shots were fired at pursuing officers during the chase, and a bullet hit the center of the patrol car’s windshield. No one was injured. It was not known if police returned fire.

The three suspects left the car near Robinson and 10th avenues and ran into a nearby canyon.

One was captured quickly, but police were still looking for two other men after 10:30 p.m. During the search, police fanned out onto the freeway, bringing traffic through the park to a crawl.

A police helicopter with a spotlight was used to help in the search. Witnesses said about 20 patrol cars were involved in the hunt. Police said the suspects were armed with at least one long-barreled revolver.