Human smuggling suspect caught in Phoenix after chase had her 2 young kids in car

PHOENIX – A human smuggling suspect led law enforcement on a chase from Eloy to Phoenix early Friday while her two young children were in the vehicle, authorities said.

The incident started around 2 a.m. on Interstate 10 at mile marker 204 near Toltec Road when deputies attempted to stop a Dodge Charger driving erratically, the Pinal County Sheriff’s Office said in a press release.

A gray Hyundai traveling with the Charger twice tried to run the pursuing deputy off the road, PCSO said. Deputies shifted their pursuit from the Charger to the Hyundai.

At one point, the Hyundai tried to hit deputies who were setting up spike strips on I-10, PCSO said.

The vehicle then went over spike strips near the Loop 202 interchange and eventually left the freeway and stopped near Seventh Street and Osborn Road, about 60 miles from where the chase started.

The driver, identified as 20-year-old Alma Rodriguez Dominguez, was taken into custody. She was booked into Pinal County Jail counts of aggravated assault, unlawful flight, endangerment and child abuse.

Her children, ages 5 months and 1 year, were found in the vehicle along with two people suspected of being in the country without legal permission, PCSO said. The Arizona Department of Child Safety took custody of children, and the other passengers were turned over to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

“These human smuggling attempts are incredibly dangerous for all involved, including law enforcement, the general public, those being trafficked illegally and, unfortunately in this case, innocent children,” Sheriff Mark Lamb said in the release.

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