A Las Vegas couple was arrested after allegedly leading police on two separate pursuits through California beach communities while a child was inside their vehicle.
The incident unfolded late Friday night in Capitola, a community in Santa Cruz County, according to local authorities.
The Capitola Police Department said in a social media post that officers attempted to stop an Acura sedan for a traffic violation, but the driver refused to pull over and led officers on a dangerous chase involving high-speed and wrong-way driving.
Officers eventually terminated the pursuit in Aptos, about five miles east of where it began along 41st Avenue in Capitola, citing an abundance of caution.
Police located the vehicle “a short time later” near the Seascape Resort in the nearby seaside village of Rio Del Mar. Officers initiated a second, shorter pursuit that ended near Hidden Beach County Park after the driver maneuvered the vehicle onto the beach, according to a photo posted by the department.
Following a standoff, the driver, a 41-year-old Las Vegas man, refused to exit the vehicle or comply with police commands. Officers eventually took him into custody and discovered a 3-year-old child inside the car.
Authorities also arrested the child’s mother, a 38-year-old Las Vegas resident.
The father was booked into the Santa Cruz County Jail on multiple charges, including felony evading, driving under the influence and child endangerment. Capitola police said the mother was taken into custody by the California Highway Patrol on “separate charges.”
Authorities did not identify either suspect by name.
The child was unharmed during the chase and was turned over to Child Protective Services, police confirmed.
Authorities released no further information. However, the Capitola Police Department thanked the CHP and K9 Officer Chip, the Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office, the Santa Cruz Police Department and California State Parks for their “rapid assistance and resource sharing in bringing this dangerous situation to a safe resolution.”
