HURST – A man has been arrested and cited after fleeing from Williamson County Sheriff’s deputies on an ATV with a child he didn’t have custody of Tuesday afternoon.

According to the Williamson County Sheriff’s Office, Rickey A. Cooper was cited for Aggravated Fleeing and Eluding a Peace Officer (Class 4 Felony), Child Abduction (Class 4 Felony), Obstructing Justice (Class 4 Felony), Endangering the Life or Health of a Child (Class A Misdemeanor), Driving While License Revoked (Class A Misdemeanor), two counts of Disobeying a Stop Sign, Operating an ATV on Roadway, and Operating Uninsured Motor Vehicle. Cooper was taken to and lodged in the Williamson County Jail.

Deputies attempted to stop Cooper around 3:30 Tuesday afternoon on Williamson Street in Hurst. Deputies knew Cooper from prior law enforcement contact. He was seen operating a four wheeler on a public roadway holding a 3-year-old child without a helmet.

When deputies saw this, they attempted to stop Cooper, but he disobeyed multiple stop signs and fled. Deputies ended their pursuit so they wouldn’t put the child in danger. It was also discovered that Cooper is the child’s parental father, however, he doesn’t have custodial rights and had picked him up from the child’s grandparents.

Cooper failed to return home with the child upon nightfall. Deputies began following up on leads throughout the community. During this time more than a dozen members of the community responded believing the child was lost and unaware that the child was with his parental father.

Around 9:10 p.m., family members told deputies that Cooper had contacted them and wanted the child picked up and would then surrender to law enforcement. Then at 9:30 p.m., deputies were notified that the child was picked up by his grandmother and Cooper was taken into custody.

While speaking with Cooper, he said the four wheeler he had been riding was stolen. It has not been recovered. Deputies continue to search for it.