ALISO VIEJO – Three documented San Clemente gang members were arrested early Friday morning after deputies pursued a stolen vehicle from San Juan Capistrano to Dana Point, up the coast to Newport Beach and then back down to South County on a toll road, officials said.

An Orange County Sheriff’s Department deputy was patrolling shortly before 3:15 a.m. in the neighborhood near Los Rios and La Zanja streets when he saw a trio of men inside a black, four-door Mazda before the car sped off, sheriff’s Lt. Jeff Hallock said.

The car was reported stolen out of San Clemente.

Officials said the deputy pursued the men south to Dana Point, before the driver turned and headed up the coast to Newport Beach. The driver then drove onto the southbound 73 toll road.

California Highway Patrol officers were made aware of the pursuit and placed a spike strip on the toll road, which the driver ran over 24 minutes after the pursuit started near Pacific Park Drive in Aliso Viejo.

“They were able to disable the vehicle and took three men into custody,” Hallock said.

All men, who officials say are documented San Clemente gang members, were arrested on suspicion of possession of stolen property. Their names were not immediately released.

Investigators found a stolen checkbook inside the car after the pursuit and more potential charges will possibly be added later, Hallock said.

No one was injured in the incident.

Contact the writer: 714-796-7802 or aduranty@ocregister.com