Atwater man arrested after kidnapping of 4-year-old son prompts Amber Alert, police say

MONTEREY COUNTY, Calif. (KFSN) -- An Atwater man is in jail facing multiple felony charges after authorities say he kidnapped his 4-year-old son, prompting an Amber Alert late Monday night.

The video above is from an earlier story and will be updated.

Monterey Police arrested 40-year-old Daniel Hutchens, who is being held without bail at the Monterey County Jail.

Police say officers were called just after 7 p.m. to a motel in the Central Coast city following multiple reports of a kidnapping in progress. Callers reported Hutchens had taken a child in his vehicle and hit two people while driving away.

Investigators say Hutchens followed his ex-wife and their two children, ages 4 and 1, to the motel. Authorities say Hutchens, wearing a mask, assaulted his ex-wife outside her car, forced his way inside and took his 4-year-old son.

Witnesses tried to stop Hutchens from leaving, police say, but he sped in reverse through the motel parking lot, striking and injuring two people with his vehicle's open door.

Officers later spotted Hutchens' vehicle in Seaside and attempted to pull him over. Police say Hutchens refused to stop, leading officers on a chase onto northbound Highway 1, where they say he reached speeds over 100 mph and called 911, threatening that he was armed and would not surrender. Officers lost sight of the vehicle after it exited the highway in Castroville.

Authorities later found the vehicle abandoned, with witnesses reporting Hutchens had ran away with the child. Multiple agencies, including the California Highway Patrol, joined the search, using drones and issuing an Amber Alert.

Just after 10:15 p.m., a drone located Hutchens and his son near North Monterey County Middle School. Hutchens was taken into custody without incident, police said.

The child was not injured and was reunited with his mother in Castroville. Hutchens was booked on felony charges, including kidnapping, robbery, assault with a deadly weapon, domestic violence, evasion and child abuse.

If you are the victim of domestic abuse, or you know someone who is, there is help available 24/7. In Fresno County, call the Marjaree Mason Center at (559) 233-4357. In all other locations, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at (800) 799-7233.

Stay with ABC30 for the latest details on this developing story.