Man Slain After Dangling Baby From Car During Police Chase

ELVERTA, Calif. — A knife-wielding man was shot and killed by sheriff’s deputies Wednesday after he led them on a chase while dangling his 13-month-old daughter from his car, authorities said.

Sacramento County sheriff’s spokesman Ed Close said the man, Arturo Buitron, 32, of Sacramento, had threatened to kill the girl unless her mother returned home following a quarrel.

“There was an argument between a husband and wife,” Close said. “He got rough with her. She went next door to the neighbor’s and called police. He took the 13-month-old daughter and told a 10-year-old daughter that if her mom did not come back, he would kill the 13-month-old.”

Close said Buitron left the house and drove to several local markets, where he carried the girl into the stores, took out a knife and threatened to harm her unless he was given cigarettes and other goods.

Witnesses called sheriff’s deputies, who spotted the man in his car near the Elverta Market in Elverta, a suburb about 10 miles north of Sacramento. Deputies chased the man, who drove his car with one hand while dangling the child outside by the legs, Close said.

Deputies pursued the man down a side street, where his car hit another vehicle and then crashed into a tree. Close said deputies opened fire when it appeared Buitron was stabbing the child.

Sheriff’s investigators said the child suffered minor scratches and was taken to University Medical Center in Sacramento for treatment.