San Diego

Two men were arrested Wednesday in connection with a string of nine armed robberies in San Diego, La Mesa, El Cajon and Lemon Grove after they led police on a chase in Southeast San Diego.

Police arrested Joseph Lawton, 23, and a 17-year-old companion at about 11 a.m., eight hours after the first armed robbery was reported in the 5100 block of Imperial Avenue in San Diego.

Police alleged that Lawton stole a car at the scene and then robbed two people in Lemon Grove, two more in La Mesa, two in San Carlos and three in El Cajon. One of the people robbed in Lemon Grove was a 75-year-old man who had been pistol-whipped, they said.

During the spree, the men allegedly stole another car in La Mesa, which San Diego police spotted in the 4100 block of National Avenue with Lawton at the wheel. Police Officers Eric Stafford and Jeff Scruggs pursued the car, which crashed into a parked car at Holly and Euclid avenues.

Police said Lawton was captured after he started to run. The 17-year-old suspect did not try to escape, they said.