MESA, Ariz. — A Mesa man has been arrested after allegedly assaulting his girlfriend and leading police on a drunken chase while two small children were in the car Saturday.
Officers from the Mesa Police Department said 30-year-old Luis Fernandez physically assaulted his girlfriend, then fled from police by ramming his car into multiple vehicles all while under the influence with a 6-year-old and 3-month-old in the car with him.
Police said Fernandez allegedly hit his girlfriend several times in the face and then choked her while she was driving with the two children in the backseat. The girlfriend told police that Fernandez said he was going to choke her until she was unconscious and she would never see the kids again.
Officers said Fernandez eventually began driving the vehicle and dropped the girlfriend off. The girlfriend said she called police once Fernandez tried ripping her clothes, telling her she could walk home naked.
Police found Fernandez driving the car and tried to stop him when he rammed into the officers' vehicles.
Fernandez then led police on a chase, driving erratically westbound on the US 60, west on the Interstate-17, and eventually eastbound on the I-17.
Fernandez is accused of intentionally ramming into other vehicles on the freeway, causing several crashes.
He was eventually stopped along the westbound lanes of the US 60 near Priest Drive in Tempe by officers from the Phoenix Police Department. Police said officers had to break Fernandez's car window and pull him out through the window to arrest him.
Officers determined Fernandez was driving under the influence. Police said the children were not hurt.
Fernandez is facing multiple charges including, two counts of child abuse, aggravated assault and aggravated DUI.
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