SAN DIEGO -- A motorist who refused to yield to police on Interstate 15 near Escondido Tuesday led officers on a 15-minute chase that ended with his arrest in Rancho Penasquitos and caused heavy congestion on the regional route.

The driver fled from an Escondido Police Department officer who tried to pull him over for a traffic violation near Deer Springs Road shortly after 10:30 a.m., EPD Sgt. Ryan Fien said.

The man behind the wheel of the teal-colored Ford sedan continued to the south at speeds reaching about 70 mph, traveling through Escondido and Rancho Bernardo as police and sheriff's deputies gave chase.

Near Poway Road, the motorist ran over a tire-flattening spike strip officers had laid across the freeway in his path, Fien said. The driver then pulled over a short distance to the south, near State Route 56, the sergeant said.

At that point, the man, whose name was not immediately available, got out of the vehicle and began walking toward officers, ignoring their orders to lie down on the roadway, 10News reported.

An officer responded by shooting him with an electric stun gun, which subdued him and allowed police to take him into custody, 10News reported.

Medics evaluated the motorist at the scene before taking him to a hospital. It was not immediately clear if the medical attention was anything more than a precaution.

Following the chase, southbound traffic was backed up for miles from the spot where the arrest took place.