Driver of stolen vehicle leads officers on chase through Ventura County

VENTURA COUNTY, Calif. - A man was arrested following a lengthy chase through Ventura County that started when a vehicle was reported stolen in Santa Barbara County.

The CHP says the Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Office called officers around 7:30 a.m. Tuesday, saying the stolen vehicle was traveling southbound on Highway 101.

CHP officers located the vehicle as it passed by the Telephone Road off-ramp in Ventura.

Officers tried to stop the driver, who eventually pulled over to the righthand shoulder at Oxnard Boulevard. However, CHP officers say the driver ended up taking off again.

CHP officers eventually called off the chase because of safety concerns, but the Ventura County Sheriff's Department located the vehicle shortly afterward in the Thousand Oaks area.

Sheriff's deputies said the man was located in the stairwell of a commercial building in the area near Westlake Boulevard and Highway 101.

Deputies said the man was not very cooperative, so one of the department's dogs was brought in to help with the arrest.

Nearby Westlake High School was placed on lockdown during the response, according to the sheriff's office. There were reports Oaks Christian High School may have also been placed on lockdown. NewsChannel 3 called the school and a security official said students are currently on break. Some staff members were believed to still be on campus at the time, but it was unclear whether they were put on lockdown

The sheriff's office says the man was arrested on suspicion of having a stolen vehicle, evading police, and resisting arrest. Deputies also said the man had arrest warrants in a different county.

Deputies didn't release the name of the man involved.