An overnight police chase that stretched almost 90 miles ended with the arrest of a man whom police were already looking for in another matter, police said.googleoff: all
The chase started as a routine traffic stop late Sunday near Holt Boulevard and Vineyard Avenue, and ended with the arrest of a man wanted on suspicion of stealing a child, said Ontario Police Lt. David McBride.googleoff: all
The officer saw the driver of a red Ford Mustang speeding and tried to pull him over. The driver refused to stop, got onto Interstate 10 and fled east at more than 100 mph, McBride said.googleoff: all
After speeding recklessly away from officers for about an hour, McBride said, the driver pulled over and surrendered himself in Indio, according to a police news release.googleoff: all
He later assaulted an officer during the booking process, McBride said.googleoff: all
After arresting the man and identifying him as 37-year-old Pablo Lopez Velasquez of Ontario, police discovered he was being sought on suspicion of taking a 10-year-old girl from her home on Easter morning, McBride said.googleoff: all
"We didn't learn it was the suspect wanted in this child stealing case until later,” McBride said.googleoff: all
Police are investigating the case as child stealing rather than kidnapping because the girl may have gone with the man willingly. She was later returned to her family, the lieutenant said.googleoff: all
Police had been searching for the girl since 6 p.m. Sunday, when her family reported her missing, Ontario police Sgt. Jeff Higbee said in a news release.googleoff: all
About 9 a.m. the girl “walked away from their Ontario home after having an argument (in) the front of the house,” Higbee wrote. “The family checked the area throughout the day before calling the police.”googleoff: all
Why the family waited so long to contact police is under investigation.googleoff: all
The girl returned home about 9 p.m., saying she spent the day with Velasquez, the family's neighbor.googleoff: all
“She said they spent time shopping and eating at local restaurants,” Higbee said. “The missing girl claimed that nothing inappropriate occurred between her and the neighbor.”googleoff: all
The chase began while investigators were searching for the man to question him, the sergeant said.googleoff: all
Velasquez was booked into the West Valley Detention Center on suspicion of concealing a minor from a parent, resisting arrest and felony evading police. He was held in lieu of $100,000 bail