Naked Man's Doorbell Ditching Prank Gets Ugly

A man who put a new twist on the childhood prank known as "doorbell ditching" has a list of charges to add to his wardrobe.

He was was arrested early Saturday after allegedly ringing residents' doorbells naked then leading deputies on a chase in a pickup  truck, a San Mateo County sheriff's lieutenant said today.

Two residents of the 2000 block of El Prado Street in unincorporated Redwood City reported around 3 a.m. that a naked man was ringing their doorbells, sheriff's Lt. Ray Lunny said.

A deputy who responded to the calls spotted a blue Dodge pickup truck driving away from the area, Lunny said.

The deputy attempted to stop the truck but the driver refused to slow down.

Deputies pursued the man as he allegedly drove recklessly for nearly seven miles before stopping truck on the Sand Hill Road on-ramp to northbound Interstate Highway 280.

He then got out of the car and ran to a house in the 500 block of Sand Hill Circle, kicked in the door and went into the house, Lunny said. Then he left the house and tried to hide behind nearby trees and shrubs, Lunny said.

Deputies attempted to subdue the man with an electronic control device but were unsuccessful. Then they shot two bean bags at the man and were finally able to take him into custody, Lunny said. He was taken to Stanford Hospital for an evaluation then booked into San Mateo County jail.

The man was identified as 38-year-old Peter Allen Steele. He was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence, evading a peace officer, driving with a suspended license, indecent exposure, entering a house without permission, vandalism and resisting arrest.