Mental Health Hearing Ordered For Mother Accused In I-215 Barricade

RIVERSIDE, CA — A judge Monday ordered a mental health diversion hearing for an unlicensed motorist who allegedly fled from sheriff's deputies with her two children, racing across freeways until she stopped and barricaded herself in her vehicle on Interstate 215.

Adriana Sandoval is charged with three counts of hit-and-run resulting in property damage, two counts of child cruelty and one count each of felony evading, resisting arrest and being an unlicensed operator of a motor vehicle.

Sandoval pleaded not guilty during an arraignment in January before Riverside County Superior Court Judge Gail O'Rane.

Sandoval's public defender submitted a motion Monday requesting that her case be considered for mental health diversion, which would enable her to bypass criminal prosecution if she qualifies for a regimen of psychiatric therapy — and agrees to stick to it for a specified period.

O'Rane agreed to the diversion request and set a May 20 hearing before another judge, who will review the proposed counseling program for the defendant.

The defendant is being held on $100,000 bail at the Robert Presley Jail.

According to sheriff's Sgt. Sheree Anthony, shortly after noon on Jan. 23, patrol deputies were called to a business in the 23000 block of Sunnymead Boulevard, near Frederick Street, in Moreno Valley to investigate reports of a person, Sandoval, in the parking lot of a business, refusing to leave despite being asked to go.

The defendant had her children, a boy identified in court documents as "M.S." and a girl identified as "A.S.," in her Chevrolet sedan when deputies approached.

"Sandoval was uncooperative with deputies and sped away, nearly striking a deputy," Anthony said. "Deputies attempted a vehicle stop, but the vehicle did not yield, and a pursuit ensued.

During the pursuit, the suspect traveled on the 60 freeway westbound and I-215 northbound, striking multiple innocent vehicles in her path."

No one was injured, the sergeant said.

She said that Sandoval stopped a short time later in the middle of northbound I-215, near Blaine Street.

"The suspect barricaded herself inside her vehicle on the freeway and ignored all commands to surrender," Anthony said.

The sergeant alleged Sandoval's boyfriend, 24-year-old Jonathan Roldan of Riverside, then appeared in another car and began driving the wrong way on the opposite side of the freeway, apparently in an attempt to draw deputies and California Highway Patrol officers away from Sandoval.

He was quickly stopped and apprehended without incident.

Roughly 20 minutes later, deputies persuaded Sandoval to surrender peacefully, and she was taken into custody without further incident. She was not hurt, nor were the children, who were placed in protective custody, according to Anthony.

Northbound I-215 at Blaine was closed for a half-hour during the standoff.

Roldan was arrested on suspicion of reckless driving and obstruction of a peace officer, both misdemeanors, but he posted a $5,000 bond and was released from jail hours later.

Court records show Sandoval has a prior misdemeanor conviction for petty theft. No information was available regarding Roldan.