ARIZONA NEWS

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

Sep 16, 2022, 8:49 AM | Updated: 2:51 pm

Alma Rodriguez Dominguez (Pinal County Sheriff's Office Photo)...

Alma Rodriguez Dominguez (Pinal County Sheriff's Office Photo)

(Pinal County Sheriff's Office Photo)

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.

We want to hear from you.

Have a story idea or tip? Pass it along to the KTAR News team here.

Arizona News

Mugshot of three men involved in a criminal street gang in Phoenix...

SuElen Rivera

Murder victim in Phoenix park allegedly mutilated by suspects with gang ties

Newly released information describes the gruesome details of the murder of a gay man at a Phoenix park last month allegedly orchestrated by local gang members.

5 minutes ago

...

KTAR Video

Video: Sharper Point: New Go Safe act good first step for gun safety in Arizona, more can be done though

Sharper Point: New Go Safe act good first step for gun safety in Arizona, more can be done though. Video: Jeremy Schnell and Felisa Cárdenas/KTAR News  

2 hours ago

File photo of a Goodyear Police cruiser. A man was shot and killed in a suspected road rage inciden...

KTAR.com

No arrests made in suspected road rage shooting at West Valley QuikTrip

No arrests have been made in a fatal West Valley shooting over the weekend that may have been the result of a road rage incident.

2 hours ago

Water flows from a kitchen faucet in a stock image. The Gilbert Town Council approved a notice of i...

Kevin Stone

Gilbert residents would see monthly utility bills jump by more than $50 under proposal

Gilbert residents would pay about $25 more per month next year and over $50 more within three years under proposed utility rate and fee hikes.

2 hours ago

...

KTAR Video

Video: Outgoing Maricopa County Sheriff Paul Penzone talks legacy

Video: Jeremy Schnell and Felisa Cárdenas/KTAR News

3 hours ago

Migrants seen walking through the desert to enter into the United States....

SuElen Rivera

Man found guilty of smuggling charges after leaving woman to die in southern Arizona

A federal jury last week found a Mexican man guilty of smuggling charges after he left a woman to die in southern Arizona while transporting migrants into the United States a couple years ago.

4 hours ago

Sponsored Articles

(KTAR News Graphic)...

KTAR launches online holiday auction benefitting Boys & Girls Clubs of the Valley

KTAR is teaming up with The Boys & Girls Clubs of the Valley for a holiday auction benefitting thousands of Valley kids.

...

Dierdre Woodruff

Interest rates may have peaked. Should you buy a CD, high-yield savings account, or a fixed annuity?

Interest rates are the highest they’ve been in decades, and it looks like the Fed has paused hikes. This may be the best time to lock in rates for long-term, low-risk financial products like fixed annuities.

Follow @KTAR923...

The 2023 Diamondbacks are a good example to count on the underdog

The Arizona Diamondbacks made the World Series as a surprise. That they made the playoffs at all, got past the Milwaukee Brewers in the NL Wild Card round, swept the Los Angeles Dodgers in the NLDS and won two road games in Philadelphia to close out a full seven-game NLCS went against every expectation. Now, […]

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