Four California boys that went missing last week have been found and their father was taken into custody after a standoff with police in San Diego County, authorities said Thursday.
An Amber Alert was issued late Wednesday for the children of Erica and Daniel Perez, who all had not been seen since last Friday, NBC San Diego reported. Perez was named a suspect in the case after a woman believed to be his wife was found dead Wednesday in the trunk of the family car.
State Highway Patrol found Perez's location using a tracking device that was activated in his vehicle, the Los Angeles Times reported. A pursuit followed and the vehicle was stopped and surrounded by police at around 9 a.m. on a transition road near SR 52 highway in San Diego.
Perez exited the vehicle holding one of his son's hands and they walked to the edge of the highway ramp. Another son followed.
In the meantime, Perez's two other sons exited the vehicle and ran to the officers, NBC San Diego reported. At least 10 police cars and two armored BearCat vehicles were on the scene.
As Perez paused near the edge, he was shot with a non-lethal bean bag gun and tackled to the ground. He is now in custody and all of the boys are safe.
The dramatic rescue comes after a woman was found dead in the trunk of the family's Honda less than a mile from their home in Montebello. A representative from the Los Angeles coroner's office said Thursday that Montebello police have ordered them not to say if whether or not the victim is Erica Perez, the LA Times reported.
The couple reportedly had a history of domestic violence.
