S.F. police fire at suspect during wild chase

(12-31) 08:05 PST SAN FRANCISCO -- San Francisco police opened fire on a suspect during a high-speed chase Monday night across the city that ended with the man being arrested near Golden Gate Park, authorities said.

The incident began about 8:50 p.m. when two officers in a patrol car tried to stop a Dodge Charger near 25th and Dakota streets in the Potrero Hill neighborhood. They reported seeing the driver reaching under the seat, apparently trying to hide something, authorities said.

But as one of the officers walked up to the driver's side, the rental car with Nevada license plates took off, and the officers began chasing it.

The driver got onto southbound Interstate 280 before exiting onto city streets, streaking through the Sunnyside, Balboa Terrace and Sunset neighborhoods while trying to ram numerous officers' vehicles, police said.

The driver sped north on 19th Avenue and was shot at by police after he hit an officer near Taraval Street, said Deputy Chief Lyn Tomioka. The suspect wasn't hit. The officer, whose name was withheld, suffered minor injuries and was treated at a hospital and released.

The driver continued west on Judah Street and north on 30th Avenue before heading east on Lincoln Way near the southern edge of Golden Gate Park. He crashed into a concrete barrier near the Park Police Station in the southeast corner of the park about 9 p.m. and fled on foot but was arrested by officers.

The suspect, whose name was not released, suffered non-life-threatening injuries and was taken to a hospital.