Cochise County, AZ — A high-speed pursuit on Interstate 10 westbound late Thursday night ended with the arrest of a Phoenix man, who was driving at over 100 mph with five children in the car.
Christopher Parton, 33, faces multiple charges after leading officers on a nearly 20-mile chase that endangered both his passengers and other motorists.
The incident began around 10:30 p.m. when a Department of Public Safety (DPS) trooper attempted to stop a red Dodge Journey for moving violations, including speeding, near the Highway 191 South/Cochise exit. Initially, the vehicle slowed and appeared to yield but then accelerated, reaching speeds of up to 112 mph. Parton reportedly drove erratically, weaving between lanes, traveling on the shoulder, and even turning off the vehicle’s lights in an attempt to evade law enforcement.
The pursuit continued until milepost 310 near Frontage/Ramsey Road in Pomerene, where troopers deployed spike strips to disable the vehicle. After coming to a stop, Parton fled the scene on foot, prompting a search involving Cochise County Sheriff’s deputies and a Border Patrol K-9 unit.
Following a lengthy search, Parton was located with a serious but non-life-threatening injury and was airlifted to a Tucson hospital for treatment.
Inside the vehicle, troopers discovered five children, including a 15-year-old, 14-year-old, 4-year-old, 3-year-old, and a 2-year-old, all of whom were unharmed. The children were evaluated at the hospital as a precaution.
Parton did not have a valid driver’s license at the time of the incident. The case remains under investigation.
Comments