Criminal charges were filed Tuesday against an ex-con accused of leading police on a pursuit and then barricading himself inside a South Los Angeles apartment with an infant for several hours.
Juan Manuel Zamora, 25, is set to be arraigned July 19 in a downtown Los Angeles courtroom on one felony count each of fleeing a pursuing peace officer’s vehicle while driving recklessly, child abuse under circumstances likely to cause great bodily injury or death, possession of an assault weapon, possession of a firearm by a felon and unlawful possession of ammunition, according to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office.
He is also charged with two misdemeanor counts of hit-and-run driving resulting in property damage.
Police officers responding to a call tried to stop Zamora’s vehicle last Friday in a parking lot at South San Pedro Street and East Washington Boulevard, but he drove away, according to prosecutors.
Zamora hit a police vehicle as he fled, leading officers on a chase in which he crashed into a traffic pole, according to the District Attorney’s Office. He then ran inside an apartment and holed up with a baby before surrendering to police several hours later.
He could face up to 11 years in state prison if convicted as charged, according to the District Attorney’s Office.
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