Father Held After Freeway Chase With Girl, 3, in Car
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WEST LOS ANGELES — A Pacoima man suspected of driving under the influence with his 3-year-old daughter in the car is facing several charges after a chase that ended on the San Diego Freeway, a California Highway Patrol official said Monday.
Juan P. Chavez, 28, was booked on suspicion of child endangerment, failure to yield and driving under the influence. The girl, who was unharmed, was turned over to her mother.
The chase started on the southbound San Diego Freeway near Getty Center Drive about 7:30 Sunday night after someone reported a reckless driver. Moments later, the CHP official said, an officer spotted the sedan driven by Chavez.
The officer was able to get the driver to stop, but Chavez got out with the girl in one arm, investigators said.
The officer ordered Chavez to put the child down and to get on the pavement, but Chavez got back into the car with the girl and drove away, police said. After stopping the car and driving off again several times, Chavez backed into a CHP patrol car and was arrested, officers said.
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