A Yucca Valley man's brush with the law intensified during an alleged attempt to deliberately cause a traffic accident while in the car with his young child, authorities say. Daniel Ammerman, identified by the San Bernardino County Sheriff-Coroner Department, is accused of taking control of the vehicle from his girlfriend - the child's mother - in a dangerous outburst on February 8.
The altercation reportedly began as a domestic argument, escalating rapidly when Ammerman threatened to kill the driver before abruptly jerking the steering wheel. His actions forced the car to skid into oncoming traffic on Twentynine Palms Highway, narrowly avoiding a colossal wreck. The terrified mother then drove to safety at Hi-Desert Medical Center, where Ammerman fled the scene in the vehicle, abandoning his girlfriend and their two-year-old child, according to SBSD - Morongo Basin Sheriff's Department.
Law enforcement was quick to locate Ammerman near the site of the initial altercation following a broadcast of the incident. A traffic stop was attempted, but Ammerman failed to immediately stop, instead choosing to lead deputies on a high-speed chase that culminated in a crash. He then attempted to continue to escape on foot but was shortly apprehended, as detailed by the Morongo Basin Sheriff's Station.
Ammerman was on active felony probation for a previous offense of Felony Reckless Evading at the time of the incident. A repeat of this charge was added to his rap sheet, alongside Wilful Child Endangerment, upon his arrest. He was booked into the Morongo Basin Jail. Anybody with additional information has been urged to contact Deputy D. Montes De Oca at the Morongo Basin Sheriff's Station or to leave anonymous tips on the We-Tip Hotline.
