BAKERSFIELD — A Bakersfield man and woman are behind bars for grand theft and child endangerment after slamming their car into innocent bystanders during a high-speed pursuit with police on Wednesday.
Daniel Holder, 34, was booked into the Kern County Jail on charges of grand theft, vehicle theft, possession of a stolen vehicle, conspiracy, two counts of felony child endangerment, two counts of felony hit and run, possession of a controlled substance and paraphernalia, and several outstanding warrants. 25-year-old Samantha Saenz was booked for grand theft, vehicle theft, possession of a stolen vehicle, conspiracy, possession and being under the influence of a controlled substance, and two counts of felony child endangerment.
Cafe where the chase began….
According to the Kern County Sheriff’s Office, the incident began on June 10, when detectives, posing as a buyer, agreed to meet with Holder at a restaurant in the 8600 block of Golden State Highway in Bakersfield to purchase a stolen trailer and fertilizer tank he was attempting to sell on a local website.
“The suspect arrived with the trailer, tank, and a female passenger and two children,” KCSO Public Information Officer Ray Pruitt said. “When he spotted the officers, he immediately jumped back into his vehicle and fled the scene, leading officers on a high-speed pursuit.”
During the chase, Holder’s vehicle first collided with a vehicle at the intersection of Coffee and Hageman Roads, forcing officers to end their pursuit due to concern for the safety of motorists in the area.
Holder continued to flee, again colliding with two more vehicles, before exiting his vehicle and fleeing on foot through a shopping center and into a residential area.
….and here is where the chase ended
“During the foot pursuit the suspect forced entry into a home in the 4000 block of Quicksilver Drive,” Pruitt said, “But was confronted by residents and fled into the backyard of the home next door, where he was eventually taken into custody by a K-9 unit.”
Holder sustained minor injuries and was transported to Kern Medical Center for treatment of his injuries, while none of the parties involved in either of the traffic collisions was seriously injured.
During their investigation, detectives were able to determine that Saenz was with Holder when he stole the trailer and tank prior to meeting with detectives. She had been arrested on March 6 on various drug charges. Holder has a March 10 arrest for charges similar to his recent arrest – forgery, grand theft, controlled substances and driving with a suspended license.
Both the children, ages two and four, were taken into protective custody.
