RAMONA, Calif. - A 32-year-old Chula Vista man was in custody Tuesday on suspicion of breaking into several Ramona homes and leading sheriff's deputies on a brief chase in a stolen pickup, authorities said.

Oscar Torres was arrested Monday afternoon and booked into San Diego Central Jail on suspicion of residential burglary and vehicle theft, according to San Diego County sheriff's Sgt. Ken Jones.

Around 3 p.m. Monday, deputies received word of a man entering several residences in the 17000 block of Ridgeview Lane, Jones said in a statement.

Witnesses reported that the man had black paint on his face and arms and that he fled in a Ford F-150 that had been parked in the driveway of one of the residences he allegedly entered.

A short time later, deputies spotted Torres driving the stolen Ford F- 150 eastbound on Main Street, heading toward Highway 78, Jones said.  

Torres allegedly threw objects out of the pickup and doused himself with gasoline while being pursued by deputies on the ground and a Sheriff's Department helicopter crew.

Deputies set up a spike strip and Torres eventually pulled over on Highway 78 but refused to get out of the pickup until a chemical agent and a police dog were used on him, according to Jones.

Torres was taken to Pomerado Hospital in Poway for a medical evaluation before being booked into San Diego Central Jail on suspicion of residential burglary and vehicle theft.