CHP catches SF carjacking suspects in Berkeley

The California Highway Patrol arrested three people in Berkeley on Friday in connection with a carjacking case from San Francisco, according to early reports.

The arrests took place just after 2 p.m. when the trio jumped out of their vehicle in West Berkeley, near University Avenue and I-80, in an effort to evade capture, according to radio traffic reviewed by The Scanner.

CHP units, including a law enforcement helicopter, had followed the suspects into Berkeley on the freeway.

Scroll down for an update to the story.

There were also reports that the group may have been armed.

One Scanner reader saw three people in handcuffs near the freeway on-ramp as well as "multiple cop cars and many cops searching the area" around 2:25 p.m.

Another reader said helicopters were circling overhead for nearly an hour.

The California Highway Patrol said it could not provide information about the arrests Friday because it was a San Francisco Police Department case.

As of publication time, SFPD had not responded to a request for comment.

This story will be updated if additional information becomes available.

Update, 5:25 p.m. SFPD said the incident began Friday in San Francisco at about 1:30 p.m. when officers "witnessed a carjacking attempt in the area of Mariposa and Kansas streets and pursued the suspect vehicle."

The chase ultimately ended near University Avenue and Frontage Road in Berkeley, SFPD said.

"When the suspect vehicle came to a stop, the suspects fled … on foot. Officers pursued the suspects on foot and placed the three suspects into custody," SFPD said.

Authorities said the suspects' names and related charges were not immediately available due to the ongoing investigation.

SFPD asks anyone with information about the case to call the agency at 415-575-4444 or text tips to TIP411, and begin the message with "SFPD.'"