It started in Aurora as a stolen car with a 2-year-old on board. It ended with the arrest of a 28-year-old man in Brighton. Rodriguez Parker faces second-degree kidnapping, aggravated motor vehicle theft and eluding. Formal charges have not been filed.
Aurora police said the incident began around midnight near South Abilene Street and East Mississippi Avenue when someone stole an SUV from a hotel. Authorities later learned a 2-year-old boy was asleep inside the car. In a tweet shared by Brighton police, authorities said the child’s mother took a drive to calm the baby down and to help him fall asleep. She stopped at the motel to use the restroom.
Parker got into the car and drove away. Shortly after 12:30 a.m., police saw the SUV near East Colfax Avenue and Sable Boulevard. An attempt to stop the vehicle turned into a pursuit. The chase lasted for about 40 minutes before ending near Interstate 76 and East 144th Avenue in Brighton.
Aurora police said Brighton officers used StopSticks to bring an end to the case. Platte Valley Ambulance took the child to an area hospital, then drove the child back to Aurora to reunite with his mother.