CAR CHASE ENDS WITH CAPTURE.

Byline: Bhavna Mistry Daily News Staff Writer

A Santa Monica motorist who had been weaving along the Antelope Valley Freeway was arrested early Thursday morning after leading officers on a 23-mile pursuit, California Highway Patrol officials said.

Terry Ritz, 46, was taken into custody after being subdued with pepper spray when he charged at deputies after stopping near a relative's home in Lancaster.

``He was advancing at the officers in a threatening manner,'' said CHP Sgt. Norm Duarte. ``He failed to comply to the orders of the officers.''

Ritz's white, 1978 Ford van was initially spotted about 2:40 a.m. on the freeway north of Crown Valley Road in Acton by an off-duty Los Angeles Police Department motorcycle officer traveling home from work.

Noticing the van weaving and suspecting the driver had been drinking, the officer turned on his motorcycle's lights and siren, but the van didn't pull over. The officer followed the van, and CHP officers took over the pursuit on the freeway at Avenue S.

Traveling at 70 to 75 mph, the van led officers through Palmdale and into Lancaster before exiting at 20th Street West. It continued for about 1-1/2 miles along city streets, finally stopping at Jenner Street and 18th Street West.

``He came out with a beer can in his hand,'' Duarte said.

Ritz was being held at the Lancaster sheriff's station on suspicion of felony evading arrest in lieu of $35,000 bail.