Reno kidnap, domestic violence suspect arrested after police chase

SAN JOSE — A Reno man wanted on suspicion of domestic violence and kidnapping his girlfriend’s daughters eluded police and fled to San Jose, where he led officers on a chase during which he hit a city bus. He then tried to flee on foot with the three victims before he was caught, authorities said.

Joseph Anthony Perez, 31, was being sought by Reno police early Tuesday in connection with a domestic-violence incident at an undisclosed location, after which he fled and kidnapped the victim’s daughters, ages 11 and 6, according to police.

When Reno officers tried to stop Perez from leaving the scene, he reportedly drove off with the children in his gold Chevrolet Suburban, nearly hitting an officer, police said. The officers went after the SUV but eventually called off the chase for safety reasons.

Later in the morning, Reno police tracked down Perez, who was driving the SUV with his girlfriend and the two children, but he was again able to elude pursuing officers, police said. But investigators soon got evidence that Perez had gone to San Jose, where he also had a felony domestic-violence warrant for his arrest.

San Jose police were alerted around 4:25 a.m. to the possible presence of Perez in their city, and they eventually tracked the Suburban to a location near Everdale Drive and Balgray Court in the city’s Evergreen area. Once again, officers tried to stop the vehicle, but Perez drove away.

Police followed the SUV onto northbound Highway 101 and then onto East Santa Clara Street. Police said Perez hit both a Valley Transportation Authority bus and another vehicle near the intersection at 10th Street, then at some point turned around and headed east on East Santa Clara Street, following it to Alum Rock Avenue.

When the SUV got to Jackson Avenue in East San Jose, Perez ditched the vehicle and took off with the three victims, police said. They didn’t get far, as San Jose officers caught up to them and arrested Perez, who reportedly made no attempt to escape this time.

The girlfriend and her daughters were taken to the hospital with injuries that police described as non-life threatening. No one on the bus or vehicle that Perez reportedly hit with his SUV was injured.

There were no reported injuries associated to the collision.

Perez was booked into the Santa Clara County Main Jail on suspicion of felony hit and run, felony evading, child endangerment, and multiple domestic-violence warrants. Additional details about Perez’s alleged crimes in Reno were not immediately available. He is being held without bail, according to jail records.