Chihuahua leads police on wild chase in San Francisco

When police officers spotted a chihuahua on the Bay Bridge, they tried to bring it to safety. But he sped off.

So began the wild police chase Sunday morning that shut down part of the bridge, NBC Los Angeles reported.

Video footage released by the California Highway Patrol captures the dog racing from Oakland, headed toward San Francisco, tailed by police motorcycle and patrol car on the desolate bridge.

Highway patrol released the video with a message to the public: "CHP (is) seeking the public's help in finding this rascal's family."

The dog was captured and taken to a San Francisco animal shelter. Staff members named the dog Ponch, after the CHP Officer Frank Poncherello played by Erik Estrada in the TV show "CHiPs."

A spokeswoman for the city’s Department of Animal Care and Control said the dog wore a tag decorated with a human skull, but it had no identification. Deb Campbell said the dog was recovering from its misadventure.

Buddy the dog dies with his bucket list fulfilled

Contributing: The Associated Press.