Garcia told authorities that their car had broken down, but officers found no car in the area. When officers asked Garcia to move to the other side of the guardrail with the children, he began to act frantic, authorities said. With the 5-year-old in his arms, Garcia started walking north into traffic, leaving the 6-year-old on the shoulder.
The officer attempted to calm Garcia down by stepping back, but Garcia continued into the next lane. Because traffic was light at the time, Garcia made it to the far lane, adjacent to the HOV lane.
Drivers noticed Garcia and came to a stop, allowing the officer to run into the road. Two Phoenix police officers traveling in unmarked cars arrived at the scene.
As Garcia became cornered, he claimed to have a gun. Officers used a Taser and forced him to the ground, according to DPS.
Officers discovered he had a fully loaded .45-caliber Taurus pistol, extra ammunition and a glass smoking device in his pockets. A check of the pistol revealed it was stolen.
Both children were unharmed and taken into Child Protective Services custody. CPS has begun an investigation.
Garcia was arrested and taken to the Fourth Avenue Jail. He could face charges of child abuse, threatening or intimidating, misconduct involving weapons, aggravated assault on a police officer, endangerment, possession of drug paraphernalia, obstruction of a highway, and theft and possession of stolen property.
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