Police chase burning, stolen tow truck

A firefighter approaches the flaming truck after the chase ended

LONG BEACH, California (CNN) -- A stolen tow truck, three of its tires punctured by police-deployed spike strips, burst into flames and was forced to stop Tuesday, ending a 2 1/2-hour police chase along residential streets and in the business district.

Police identified the driver as Atilano Magana Ochoa, 41, who was desbribed as a disgruntled employee of the tow truck company. At one point Ochoa tried to elude his pursuers by driving around in a circle at an intersection. He surrendered after being overcome by black smoke spewing from the truck's flaming undercarriage, said Jana Blair, a Long Beach Police spokeswoman.

Blair said the tow truck -- a 1999 GMC "Top Kick" model -- belonged to the City of Long Beach Fleet Services. Supervisors alerted Long Beach Police that Ochoa, a temporary employee, had stolen one of the firm's trucks following an argument at the tow yard the previous afternoon.

VIDEO Watch as the tow truck comes to a stop and bursts into flames (Sept. 4) Play video (QuickTime, Real or Windows Media)

He returned to the yard for the midnight shift -- against orders -- and began acting strangely, jumped into one of the tow trucks and drove off company property by plowing through a closed gate, authorities said.

Los Angeles County sheriff's deputies saw the truck about 4:30 a.m., and several other agencies -- including Los Angeles city police and the California Highway Patrol -- participated in the chase.

Long Beach Police resumed their role in the chase when the tow truck returned to the city limits. Officers laid out spike strips across several different streets. Ochoa drove over some of them, puncturing three of the truck's four tires, police said.

He managed to continue driving on the rims for more than an hour, despite sparks that eventually started a fire in the undercarriage.

The chase ended about 7 a.m. (10 a.m. EDT), and Ochoa surrendered to police after the cab of the truck filled up with black smoke from the fire, said Blair.

He was taken into custody by Long Beach Police and taken to St. Mary's Medical Center in Long Beach for treatment of minor injuries described by officials as contusions.

Ochoa was being held in lieu of $30,000 bail. Charges are pending.