Woman Arrested after Stealing Vehicle & Evading Officers with 3-Month-Old Infant

ODESSA, TX — (Press Release) Odessa Police and the Ector County Sheriff’s Office arrested Monique Desirea Martinez, 26, on Aug. 11 at approximately 1744 hours for Endangering a Child “State Jail Felony” and Unauthorized Use of a Motor Vehicle “State Jail Felony”, and Evading with a Motor Vehicle “3^rd Degree Felony”. Officers responded to the 700 block of East 2^nd Street in reference to stolen red Dodge 2500 pickup.

An OPD officer observed the listed vehicle traveling eastbound on Highway 80. The officer activated their emergency lights and sirens but the driver refused to stop and accelerated. The listed vehicle crashed into an Ector County Sheriff’s Office patrol unit in the area of Murphy and Grant. The listed vehicle continued eastbound on Murphy at a high rate of speed while running stop signs and red lights.

The listed vehicle eventually stopped in the 500 block of Fitch and the driver, later identified as Martinez, refused to exit but was eventually pulled out of the vehicle. Investigation revealed that Martinez had been holding a 3-month-old infant in her lap during the entire incident.

Further investigation revealed that the owner of the listed vehicle had left the vehicle running with the keys in the ignition while it was parked at Precision Torque and Testing. The owner advised that they did not give Martinez consent to drive their vehicle and did not know who she was.

Based on the facts and circumstances presented during the investigation, OPD charged Martinez with endangering a child and unauthorized use of a motor vehicle. The ECSO charged Martinez with evading arrest with a motor vehicle”. CPS responded to the scene and took custody of the infant. There were no reports of any injuries.