NEW KENT COUNTY, Va. — A Norfolk man is in custody near Richmond after police say he abducted a 4-year-old boy and then led police on a chase in New Kent County.
Norfolk police say it all began around 3 a.m. Monday when officers were called to Sentara Leigh Hospital for a report of a domestic disturbance.
Officers arrived to find the suspect, later identified as 32-year-old Bryan Valdez, inside a vehicle in the hospital parking lot. The officers attempted to pull Valdez over, but he fled the scene.
During their investigation, police learned Valdez had fled the city with his 4-year-old child.
Norfolk Police alerted outside law enforcement agencies in an attempt to help locate Valdez and the boy.
That afternoon, Virginia State Police say they spotted Valdez driving east on Interstate 64 in New Kent County. Troopers attempted to pull Valdez's vehicle over, but he refused and a pursuit ensued.
After a five-mile chase with speeds at times going over 100 miles per hour, Valdez ended up losing control and crashing into the back of a state police car near Exit 205 in New Kent.
Police said his car sideswiped the patrol car, ran off the road, and overturned.
Troopers say that's when the man, reportedly armed with a knife, then took off running into the nearby woods with the boy.
He eventually surrendered peacefully. Both Valdez and the boy were evaluated at the hospital and have since been released and the child has been reunited with his mother.
On Tuesday, police said he'd been charged with felony child endangerment, felony abduction by force, felony eluding police, and reckless driving.
Norfolk Police have also charged him with felony threats in writing, while the Norfolk Fire Marshal has charged him with threat to burn.
Valdez is currently in custody at the Henrico County Jail.