Girl, 10, a passenger in police car chase in Burbank
A man was arrested in Burbank this weekend on suspicion of child endangerment after he allegedly led police on a brief chase with his 10-year-old niece in the car.
The car chase shut down the southbound Golden State (5) Freeway for 10 minutes early Saturday morning, Burbank police said.
The pursuit ended with the arrest of two brothers -- Luis Villalvazo, the driver, and Marcos Villalvazo, the girl’s 40-year-old father who was also a passenger, said police Lt. Eddie Ruiz.
Police attempted to stop Luis Villalvazo, 32, just after midnight on suspicion that he was driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol near Empire Avenue and Buena Vista Street in Burbank, Ruiz said.
Luis Villalvazo stopped briefly near San Fernando Boulevard and Winona Avenue, but as officers approached, he reportedly shut off his headlights and drove away in “an unsafe manner” onto the 5 Freeway, Ruiz said.
After a brief chase, Luis Villalvazo stopped on a shoulder near the Glendale Avenue exit.
Luis Villalvazo was arrested on suspicion of child endangerment, driving under the influence and evading police, and is being held in lieu of $175,000 bail. He is due in court this week.
Marcos Villalvazo was arrested for having an outstanding no-bail warrant for a DUI hit-and-run, Ruiz said.
The child was released to a family member.
No injuries were reported.
[For the Record, 1:10 p.m.: An earlier version of this story incorrectly stated that the car stopped near the Colorado Street exit.]
-- Alene Tchekmedyian, alene.tchekmedyian@latimes.com