CHULA VISTA, Calif. - The man who authorities said tried to run over a Chula Vista police officer is now under arrest.

Gerardo Rodriguez-Meza, 22, was taken into custody Wednesday by the San Diego Regional Fugitive Task Force.

Rodriguez-Meza, who police say is a known gang member, was driving a car that deliberately struck an officer's patrol car. He was arrested at an apartment in the 800 block of East Washington in Colton, Calif.

He was booked into the San Diego County Jail on assault with a deadly weapon, attempted murder of a police officer and weapons charges.

On Sept. 5, officer Glenn Gossett attempted to stop a vehicle with three or more passengers driving erratically near Memorial Park in Chula Vista.

The driver refused to yield, instead pulling into an access road off the 400 block of Third Avenue, where the car crashed into a wall, CVPD Capt. Gary Wedge said.

"Believing the driver and (passengers) were going to abandoned their vehicle and flee, Officer Gossett got out of his patrol car in anticipation of a foot pursuit," Wedge said. "Instead, the vehicle accelerated in reverse in a sweeping U-turn toward Officer Gossett and struck the patrol car, forcing the officer to back away."

The driver then revved the engine of the car and accelerated directly toward Gossett, who responded by firing several shots from his service pistol. The suspect's vehicle slammed into the patrol car again, after which the driver sped off. The officer was uninjured.

Police later found the damaged vehicle abandoned a block away with several bullet holes in it.

Police searched the area and detained a 15-year-old boy and two men in three separate locations. However, Rodriguez-Mesa was able to elude officers.