A Missouri father is facing felony charges after authorities say he abandoned his infant child in the middle of a St. Louis street, misled the child’s mother about the baby’s whereabouts, and later led police on a dangerous chase through city streets before being taken into custody.
According to court records, Christopher Sean Pearson, 36, has been charged with first-degree child endangerment and resisting arrest by fleeing in a manner that created a substantial risk of serious injury or death.
Infant Discovered in Car Seat on Busy Road
The incident occurred on July 15, when officers with the St. Louis Police Department responded to the area of Goodfellow Boulevard and Natural Bridge Road after receiving reports of an infant abandoned in a car seat in an active traffic lane.
According to a probable cause affidavit, witnesses told investigators they saw the driver of a blue Tesla place the child in the roadway before driving away.
One witness initially believed the car seat was empty. After realizing an infant was inside, the witness immediately removed both the child and the car seat from the driving lane to prevent the baby from being struck by passing vehicles.
The infant was safely rescued before any injuries were reported.
Father Allegedly Gave False Information to Child’s Mother
Investigators said Pearson had been caring for the child before the incident.
Shortly after the baby was abandoned, the child’s mother called Pearson to ask where the infant was.
According to court documents, Pearson allegedly told her he had left the baby outside a police station, a statement investigators later determined was false.
Police said the child had actually been left in the middle of the roadway.
Police Located Tesla and attempted a traffic stop
Later that day, officers spotted the blue Tesla, which investigators said was registered to Pearson and matched the description provided by witnesses.
According to police, Pearson looked toward the officers as he drove past them and then immediately accelerated, prompting a vehicle pursuit.
Chase Ended After Driver Crashed Through Fences
Police said Pearson ignored numerous traffic signals and drove recklessly while attempting to evade officers, nearly causing several crashes along the way.
Authorities attempted to stop the vehicle using spike strips, but Pearson managed to avoid them.
According to investigators, the chase ended when Pearson reached a dead-end street, drove over a curb, crashed through one fence into a residential yard, continued through a second fence, crossed another sidewalk, and eventually brought the Tesla to a stop.
Officers Recover Multiple Firearms
During the pursuit, police allege Pearson threw a handgun from the moving vehicle.
After his arrest, officers searched the Tesla and reported recovering two additional firearms inside the vehicle.
Authorities have not announced whether additional weapons-related charges will be filed.
Court Keeps Pearson in Jail
Court documents state that Pearson has a criminal history dating back to 2007, including several previous failures to appear in court.
Prosecutors argued that his criminal record indicated he was unlikely to appear for future hearings if released.
Pearson appeared before a judge in St. Louis Circuit Court on Thursday.
The judge ordered him to remain held without bond, finding probable cause that he posed both a flight risk and a danger to the alleged victim, the community, and others.
The investigation remains ongoing. Pearson is presumed innocent unless and until the allegations against him are proven in court.
