COUNTYWIDE : Driver With Son, 2, Halts After Chase

A Long Beach man driving with his 2-year-old son tried to avoid arrest on outstanding traffic warrants Tuesday, leading Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputies on a chase through Orange County before giving up.

Deputies were trying to stop Anselmo Mendez, 23, in Carson for making an illegal turn, but he would not pull over, L.A. Sheriff’s Lt. Marc Klugman said.

A computer check showed deputies that Mendez was wanted on outstanding traffic warrants, but no specifics were available, he said.

Mendez stopped while still in Carson but took off again while deputies were walking toward his car, Klugman said.

Deputies chased him onto the southbound San Diego Freeway.

Mendez decided to stop just south of the El Toro Y about 11:30 a.m. Deputies found his son in the front seat, Klugman said.

Mendez was arrested on suspicion of evading arrest and child endangerment. The boy was held by deputies until relatives could pick him up.

Mendez told deputies later that he knew there were warrants out for him but that he did not want to go to jail, Klugman said.

“He finally realized he was endangering his child and stopped,” Klugman said. “It was not a wild, high-speed chase. But he just wouldn’t stop.”