A San Joaquin County man was arrested after allegedly hitting speeds of up to 100 mph on Highway 99 with a young child in the vehicle, authorities said. Officers called off an active pursuit once they realized a child was inside, then later found the car abandoned. Deputies who searched the vehicle reported finding a loaded “assault-style” rifle and what they described as a high-capacity magazine. A San Joaquin County Sheriff’s Office drone team helped locate the driver and the child before deputies took the suspect into custody.
According to FOX40, California Highway Patrol officers first tried to pull the driver over on Highway 99 after observing reckless driving. Instead of stopping, the driver sped off and later abandoned the vehicle, at which point sheriff’s deputies took over the search. Police told the outlet they ended the pursuit after spotting the child inside the car, then discovered the loaded rifle during a later search of the vehicle.
State ban on high-capacity magazines could matter
Under California law, a “large-capacity magazine” is defined as any ammunition-feeding device that can hold more than 10 rounds, and state statute limits their possession and transfer. As detailed by Justia, violations tied to these magazines can bring fines, jail time, or both, depending on the conduct involved. The U.S. Ninth Circuit recently rejected legal challenges to the statewide ban, according to the Los Angeles Times, a ruling that could shape whether prosecutors add magazine-related charges in this case.
What police say happened
CHP units initially spotted the vehicle for reckless driving and tried to initiate a traffic stop, then pulled back from a high-speed chase after seeing that a child was inside, FOX40 reported. The San Joaquin County Sheriff’s Office drone team helped officers track down the abandoned car and reunite the child with deputies, who then took the driver into custody nearby. Officials have not yet released the suspect’s name or any formal list of charges, saying the investigation is still underway…