A police chase through East Liberty Thursday helped authorities make a large drug bust.

Investigators said the chase ended when the driver crashed his SUV on Columbo Street just before 6 p.m. Thursday.

The driver and passenger then ran inside a nearby apartment building. They were arrested a short time later.

Neighbors told Channel 11 News they saw a large pile of white powder on the street, possibly as much as one kilo of cocaine the suspects may have tossed from the car.

Pamela Ganes, who lives in East Liberty, said her grandchildren witnessed the entire incident.

“My grandchildren were there, so that was really kind of hard because they were afraid,” Ganes said.

Five vehicles that may be part of a large drug operation were towed from the scene.

The suspects names have not been released.