Update: High Speed Chase of Armed Suspect Crosses South Bay, Imperial Beach

An armed man allegedly robbed a City Heights fast-food restaurant this afternoon before leading police on a 45-minute road chase through southern San Diego and the South Bay before finally pulling over on Interstate 5 and surrendering to officers.   

The holdup at the McDonald's in the 5300 block of El Cajon Boulevard was reported shortly after 1 p.m., according to the San Diego Police Department.

The thief, who was seen with a pistol during the robbery, fled the business in a gray or dark-green Pontiac sedan, SDPD Detective Gary Hassen said. When patrol officers caught up with the vehicle a short time later, the suspect refused to yield and sped off to the south.

The fleeing man led squad cars and a police helicopter through southeast San Diego, National City and Chula Vista. At one point at its furthest venture south, the chase entered Imperial Beach, speeding down Palm Avenue and through a red light to go south on Florida Street.

In Chula Vista, the suspect exited Interstate 805 and crisscrossed over various surface streets before getting onto Interstate 5, this time headed north, according to Hassen.

Spike strips were laid out, flattening three of the car's four tires.

A few minutes later, the fleeing man pulled to a stop on the freeway,
just south of Main Street in National City. He promptly got out, followed officers' shouted orders to lie face-down on the roadway and was arrested.   

The suspect's name was not immediately available.

City News Service contributed to this report.