A Rio Grande Valley father is behind bars after abandoning his 8-year-old son to flee from police during a weekend DWI chase.

Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) state troopers arrested Juan Alberto Vega near La Paloma late Friday night.

A state trooper tried pulling him over for speeding off FM 732 just north of Espinoza Road around 11:50 p.m. Friday.

Vega allegedly refused to stop his Lincoln Towncar but stopped off Leal Road where he fled on foot.

State troopers allegedly found Vega hiding in a canal.

Investigators reported that Vega had left his 8-year-old son inside the car while fleeing on foot.

State troopers charged Vega with DWI with a child passenger, evading arrest in a motor vehicle, evading arrest on foot and child abandonment.

Vega appeared before Cameron County Pct. 6 Justice of the Peace Juan Mendoza in Los Fresnos on Saturday morning.

Judge Mendoza issued a total of $14,500 dollars in bonds.

Vega remained in custody at the Cameron County Jail as of Monday afternoon.