Pursuit suspect pleads not guilty to charges related to chase that ended in a crash and a baby injured
A pursuit suspect pleaded not guilty in court Wednesday to charges related to a police chase that ended in a crash that injured a baby last week in Thermal.
Christopher Gonzalez, 34, was arraigned in court on Tuesday. He was charged with reckless evading of a peace officer, child endangerment, and hit-and-run with injury.
The pursuit happened last Thursday, going from Highway 111 in La Quinta/Indio to Thermal.
According to the the Riverside County Sheriff's Office, the incident started when deputies spotted Gonzalez, a wanted felon in the 78000 block of Highway 111 near the border of La Quinta and Indio.
The pursuit was initiated after deputies attempted a vehicle stop but the suspect, later identified as Gonzalez, failed to yield. The pursuit continued until Gonzalez crashed into an uninvolved vehicle in the area of Fillmore Street and 66th Avenue in Thermal.
Authorities then said Gonzalez fled from the vehicle into a canal, where he was taken into custody a short time later.
A baby suffered moderate injuries in the crash.
The occupants of the uninvolved vehicle suffered minor injuries.
Gonzalez is being without bail at the John Benoit Detention Center in Indio. He is scheduled to return to court on Jan. 25.
Stay with News Channel 3 for continuing updates.
