A pursuit that began in Santa Fe Springs ended near Downtown Long Beach Friday evening with the driver’s arrest, authorities said.

The driver of a white vehicle that had been reported stolen out of Whittier was detained near Eighth Street and Atlantic Avenue near an apartment complex shortly after 6 p.m., said Sgt. Rickie Williams of the California Highway Patrol, which assisted Whittier PD in pursuing the subject.

“He was driving recklessly, but there was minimal pedestrian traffic and traffic,” Williams said. “He blew some lights and whatnot, but conditions were adequate for us to continue the pursuit.”

The vehicle exited the 710 Freeway and made a circle around Long Beach Boulevard and Anaheim Street, officials said. Several helicopters circled overhead as they followed the suspect who was driving through Long Beach.

The SUV stopped briefly in an alley near Waite and Nardo courts, then headed east on 10th Street from Linden Avenue.

The driver then exited the SUV, leaving it in an alley near Eighth Street and Atlantic Avenue and appeared to run through an apartment complex.

The scene was chaotic as police were attempting to subdue the suspect on Atlantic Avenue surrounded by a growing crowd of onlookers. The man was heard yelling at officers and seen struggling on the hood of a police car. Whittier police arrested the suspect and placed him in the back seat of a cruiser.

City News Service contributed to this report.