Police Say East Bay Man Drove With Toddler During Chase
SAN LEANDRO (BCN) -- An Oakland man has been arrested on multiple gun, drug and child endangerment charges for allegedly leading San Leandro police officers on a high-speed chase while his 18-month-old child sat unprotected in the front seat, a police spokesman said.
San Leandro police Lt. Jeff Tudor said the incident began at 12:05 p.m. Thursday when officers tried to stop 20-year-old Minneer Ghanem in the 1400 block of Grand Avenue for an expired registration.
Tudor said Ghanem accelerated, entered westbound Interstate 580, exited at the Foothill Boulevard exit near the border of San Leandro and Oakland, and drove on city streets at about 100 mph in a 40 mph speed zone.
Officers stopped pursuing Ghanem because they decided it would be unsafe to do so, Tudor said. However, they broadcast a description of Ghanemn's car, he said.
Tudor said their decision to end the chase proved to be wise, as they did not know that Ghanem had a child with him in his car.
Shortly after the chase ended, another San Leandro officer saw Ghanem pulling into an auto body shop at the corner of International Boulevard and 103rd Avenue in Oakland, according to Tudor.
The officer tried to take Ghanem into custody, but Ghanem fled on foot, Tudor said.
The officer caught up with Ghanem after a short chase and had to use a stun gun to subdue and arrest him, Tudor said.
The officer then searched Ghanem's car and discovered his 18-month-old child, who was not in a car seat or strapped in with a safety belt, according to Tudor.
Fortunately, he said, the child was unharmed.
A search of Ghanem's car led to the discovery of more than three pounds of marijuana, scales consistent with drug dealing, a loaded shotgun and numerous Vicodin pills, Tudor said.
Ghanem was arrested on suspicion of four counts of child endangerment, possession of a firearm, being armed during the commission of a felony, possession and transportation of marijuana for sale, possession of a pharmaceutical drug for sale, resisting arrest, evading a police officer and reckless driving, according to Tudor.
Ghanem is expected to be arraigned in Alameda County Superior Court in Hayward on Monday, he said.
A family member took custody of the 18-month-old child after Ghanem was arrested, Tudor said.
Child Protective Services has been notified of the child's situation, Tudor said, and will investigate the child's living situation.
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