Lake Forest Man Bitten, Arrested after Long Chase

A 21-year-old Lake Forest man was bitten by police dogs and chased through the Mountain View Park area before being arrested this afternoon after a midday fight with his ex-girlfriend escalated, authorities say.

According to police, Joseph Ferria arrived at a residence on the 2400 block of Sutton Drive shortly after noon to pick up some of his property. When he got there, he found that his ex-girlfriend was there with a male friend.

Ferria threatened his ex-girlfriend and got in a fistfight with the man, who he threatened to stab, according to Sgt. Steve Simpson with Lake Forest Police Services.

When the woman called police, Ferria fled the house but returned shortly after to find deputies in the area. According to Simpson, he fled again, dashing through backyards and hopping over fences to avoid the police.

Police called in reinforcements, including a helicopter, K-9 unit, and units from Mission Viejo and Laguna Hills, and set up a half-mile perimeter to track down Ferria, Simpson said.

"At one point, the suspect indicated he was ready to surrender, when he fled yet again," according to Sgt. Angel Andrade.

Finally, police tracked Ferria to a backyard shed in the area of Azusa and Arden streets.

Simpson said that although Ferria was warned that a K-9 unit was present, he refused to surrender and made a sudden movement toward his lower leg. The dog was released and bit Ferria, who was taken into custody at about 2:15 p.m.

Ferria will be charged with making criminal threats, resisting arrest and assaulting an officer since he kicked multiple officers as they were taking him into custody—once he is released from the hospital after being treated for the dog bite, Simpson said.

About 15 officers assisted in the chase and arrest of Ferria, who is already known to Orange County police. He is on probation from a 2010 narcotics charge, authorities say.