Police are still searching for Noe Soto-Aranda and his four children. The kids have been identified as nine-year-old Noe Aranda Jr., six-year-old Chaylee Aranda, five-year-old Freddie Noe Aranda and three-year-old Maddoxlee Noe Aranda. Their father now is charged with assaulting a family member, endangering a child and evading arrest.
Authorities have also learned that a red, four-door 2011 Hyundai Sonata was stolen about two miles from where Noe Soto-Aranda dumped his pickup truck in Sealy following the three-county chase. The car has a Texas license plate No. CV2 X779.
The property owner in Sealy told authorities he heard dogs barking around 3am Thursday, but dismissed it. He later realized his trailer was broken into and his car stolen. DPS arrived on the scene to search the property, and inside an old travel trailer on the property, they found some clues.
"There's travel trailer behind the house that looks like people slept in and there was an ice cream container with four spoons in it," Sgt. Matt Ochoa Ocho said. "This is a very good sign."
While their is concern is for well being of the children, authorities decided against issuing an Amber Alert because they don't think the kids are in grave danger and a gun was inside the main trailer but not taken.
Police say Soto-Aranda's wife also reinforced on Thursday that the father would never hurt his children.
Wednesday's chase began in southwest Houston. Noe Soto-Aranda drove along Highway 59 from southwest Houston into Fort Bend County, where he disappeared, and then in Austin County. There, he crashed his truck in a fence and ran off with the children.
Noe Soto-Aranda left his pregnant wife Luz Lacayo in a parking lot, police tell us, after they pulled them over. Police say he was upset at his pregnant wife for insisting she drive after he'd had too much to drink, and someone called 9-1-1 after seeing Soto-Aranda and Lacayo fighting in their car.
Police say they were not as aggressive as they might have been during the chase due to the four young children in the car, and the high rate of speed at which Soto-Aranda was driving.
This is not the first time police say Soto-Aranda has run from them and gotten away. Last May in Pearland, police say they pulled him over and when they found warrants for domestic abuse and traffic violations he took off, leading them through a cemetery before running off on foot and leaving his brother behind. Pearland police never caught him, and so far, neither has HPD.
Soto-Aranda is also wanted by Immigration and Customs Enforcement for immigration violation, but agency officials both in Houston and San Antonio said it is their policy not to discuss anything regarding him until he is in custody.
