Rural Mission man holds family hostage on Father's Day

MISSION — A 3-year-old girl and her mother spent Father's Day as her father's hostage until Hidalgo County Sheriff's deputies were able to free her early Monday morning after an hour-long chase.

Deputies arrested Gabriel Segovia early Monday morning near the intersection of Inspiration Road and Military Highway near Mission, said Capt. John Montemayor of the Hidalgo County Sheriff's Office.

Authorities apprehended Segovia, 38, as he held his daughter at knifepoint near the Ford Expedition he used to lead police on an eight-mile chase that began outside a store near the intersection of Goodwin and Mile 3 roads near Mission late Sunday night.

Ongoing marital problems likely caused the hostage situation that ended with a chase, Montemayor said.

Deputies first responded to Segovia's home along Goodwin Road about 10:30 p.m. Sunday. There, relatives said there had been a domestic disturbance between Segovia and his 28-year-old common-law wife, Montemayor said.

Deputies found Segovia, his wife and daughter inside their SUV outside the shop, Montemayor said.

A patrol unit tried to pull over the Segovia's vehicle, but he took off, police said.

A spike strip laid ahead of the pursuit slashed the tires of Segovia's vehicle and his wife bailed out as it slowed near an intersection, Montemayor said. She was treated at an area hospital with minor injuries from the escape and an apparent assault earlier in the evening.

Segovia then continued with his 3-year-old daughter to Military Highway and Inspiration Road south of Mission. After a brief standoff between officers and Segovia, deputies managed to free the child and arrest him.

Officers from Mission, Palmview and the Texas Department of Public Safety assisted during the pursuit, Montemayor said.

An Hidalgo County Justice of the Peace charged Segovia with two counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, a second-degree felony that could send him to prison for up to 20 years and fine him up to $10,000 upon conviction. He was also charged with evading arrest, a state jail felony punishable by up to two years in jail and up to a $10,000 fine.

Segovia's bond was set at $410,000 for the three felony counts. He remained at the Hidalgo County Jail late Monday afternoon.

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Jared Taylor covers law enforcement and general assignments for The Monitor. You can reach him at (956) 683-4439.