A pursuit suspect was taken into custody Sunday night after he allegedly led DPS troopers across several cities, all with a 6-month-old child in the vehicle.
The Department of Public Safety says the situation began on the US 60 eastbound around 4 p.m. when they attempted to pull over a driver for following another vehicle too closely.
The driver refused to stop and exited the 60 at Greenfield Road, before getting back on going westbound.
The driver eventually led DPS troopers all the way to the I-10 near 43rd Avenue before exiting the freeway. Troopers stopped pursuit at that time.
DPS says with assistance from a Phoenix police helicopter, the vehicle was located near 45th Avenue and Thomas Road. Troopers used several vehicles to box the suspect in, in the area.
The suspect, identified as 30-year-old Joseph Ortiz, was taken into custody and treated for neck pain. He was then booked into jail on several charges including kidnapping, shoplifting, driving without a license, fleeing from law enforcement and more.
A female passenger also in the vehicle told a 911 dispatcher that she asked the driver to stop, but he refused. There were no injuries to the woman or child during the incident.
A handgun was also reportedly tossed from the suspect’s vehicle during the pursuit, and later recovered by Phoenix police.
