Spotsylvania Father With 3 Children In Vehicle Flees Sheriff's Deputies

FREDERICKSBURG, VA — A 29-year-old Spotsylvania father is facing multiple charges, including assault on law enforcement and child endangerment, after fleeing Spotsylvania County Sheriff’s deputies on Tuesday with his three children in the same vehicle, according to authorities

Deputies responded to the 4600 block of Patriot Highway for the report of a dispute. They found that one of the men involved in the dispute was wanted in another jurisdiction. When they tried to detain the man, he assaulted one of the deputies, according to the incident report. He then ran to a vehicle nearby that was owned by a relative and drove off.

“Inside the vehicle were the suspect’s three young children,” according to the report. “Out of immediate concern for the safety of the children, deputies opted not to engage in a pursuit. Instead, units were quickly dispatched to the suspect’s residence in an effort to safely locate both the children and the suspect.”

Arriving at the suspect’s home, the deputies found that the vehicle had crashed into a fence. Once additional units from the sheriff’s office arrived, they set up a perimeter and called for the children, who were inside the residence, to come outside, according to the sheriff’s office. The three children exited the residence unharmed.

After determining that the suspect was alone in the residence, deputies ordered him multiple times to surrender or he would be apprehended by a K9 unit, according to the sheriff’s office. The suspect eventually came outside and was taken into custody.

Sheriff’s deputies arrested Rodney Ellis of Spotsylvania, charging him with:

• Assault on Law Enforcement
• Obstruction of Justice with Force
• Misdemeanor Eluding
• Unauthorized Use of a Motor Vehicle
• Three Counts of Child Endangerment
• Felony Hit and Run
• Felony Driving Revoked (DUI-related)
• Failure to Appear for a Traffic Offense (Colonial Heights)