Watch CBS News

Chihuahua leads police on chase in San Francisco

The California Highway Patrol tweeted a video of Sunday morning’s pursuit.
Police tail chihuahua on San Francisco bridge 00:29

SAN FRANCISCO-- A Chihuahua is in animal custody after leading police on a chase across the Oakland-San Francisco Bay Bridge.

At one point the dog, described as a black Chihuahua, was running against traffic, according to CHP officials, CBS San Francisco reported.

The California Highway Patrol tweeted the small black dog "led us on quite a chase" Sunday and posted a video of it running furiously on the upper level of the bridge as it was trailed by a motorcycle officer.

After it was captured, the Chihuahua was taken to a San Francisco animal shelter where staff members named him Ponch, after the CHP Officer Frank Poncherello played by Erik Estrada in the TV series "CHiPs."

When asked on Twitter if the dog was given a ticket for not using its turn signal, the CHP joked that the dog was given a "verbal warning."

A spokeswoman for the city's Department of Animal Care and Control said the dog wore a tag decorated with a human skull, but it had no identification. Deb Campbell said the dog was recovering from its misadventure.

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.