EL CAJON, Calif. -  

A 23-year-old man accused of stealing a city of San Diego vehicle led police on a short pursuit from La Mesa to El Cajon on Friday night and was in custody Saturday.

The suspect was identified as James Knight, who had an outstanding warrant for his arrest, police said. The incident began at 6:23 p.m. when a La Mesa police officer observed a stolen city vehicle entering eastbound Interstate 8 from Baltimore Drive in La Mesa, police said.

The officer attempted to stop the vehicle on the eastbound Interstate 8 offramp at Mollison Avenue in El Cajon, but the driver failed to yield and ran several red lights, police said.

La Mesa police were assisted by the CHP and a SDPD helicopter and chased the city vehicle a short distance southbound on Mollison, until it crashed into a gated apartment complex. Knight jumped out and ran but was shortly arrested.

Knight was booked on suspicion of vehicle theft, possession of a stolen vehicle, transportation of a controlled substance and felony evading, La Mesa police Sgt. Katy Lynch said.