Police: Father Kidnaps His 2 Kids And Leads Police Chase Through OC In Hummer
BUENA PARK (CBSLA.com) — A man kidnapped his former girlfriend and their two children Monday and led police on a chase through Orange County in a Hummer, according to authorities.
The chase began in Buena Park at 4:47 p.m. Monday when its police department received a call from Huntington Park police saying the driver had abducted his kids, ages 1 and 5, and their mother, who had a restraining on the suspect.
The pursuit spanned several cities and freeways, going as north into La Mirada and stopping in Newport Beach about an hour later at Pacific Coast Highway and Jamboree Road, where the driver refused to surrender or let his family go.
The driver appeared agitated and was seen talking on his mobile phone from time to time while being surrounded by police.
The standoff continued for several more hours while the suspect got out of the Hummer with one of his kids, leading police to think he was about to surrender. But then he got back into the SUV and shut the door. He repeated that about five times -- getting in and out of the Hummer.
"It's heartbreaking, just thinking about the kids, hoping and praying the kids are going to be OK," said bystander Johannah Falke.
Around 10 p.m. five hours after the chase began, the suspect made a run for it and raced up the hill as officers chased after him. He remained on the on the run as of 11:30 p.m.
His children and their mother are said to be unharmed.