A 25-year-old alleged drunken driver accused of leading police on a chase with her 3-year-old and 6-year-old children riding in her car pleaded not guilty Monday to multiple charges.
Catherine Illeana Gonzalez is charged with two counts of child abuse and endangerment, both felonies, as well as three counts of hit-and-run with property damage, driving under the influence of alcohol and resisting arrest, all misdemeanors.
Police attempted to pull her over at Magnolia Street and Trask Avenue last Thursday, but she refused to stop, said Garden Grove police Lt. Carl Whitney.
The chase led to Beach Boulevard and the eastbound Garden Grove (22) Freeway onramp, where her car collided with another vehicle, he said. At that point, her 6-year-old son exited the car and she briefly did, as well, Whitney said.
“The child was seen running after his mother by a citizen who picked up the child and followed the woman,” who had gotten back into her car and kept driving with her 3-year-old child still in the vehicle, he said.
The pursuit ended at Garden Grove Boulevard about a mile away, where she allegedly crashed her vehicle into an electrical box, Whitney said.
The children were released to the custody of their father, he said.
Gonzalez was ordered to return to court Nov. 6 for a pretrial hearing.
>> Want to read more stories like this? Get our Free Daily Newsletters Here!