The RV pursuit suspect who led authorities on a high speed chase that started in Santa Clarita last Tuesday was charged with several felony counts, officials said.

Stephen Merle Houk was charged with two counts of kidnapping, child abuse, injuring a spouse and child detention, according to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s office.

Houk was also charged with one count each of assault with a firearm, criminal threats, fleeing a pursuing peace officer’s motor vehicle, possession of a firearm by a felon, fugitive from justice and transient violation of registration, a misdemeanor.

Houk appeared in court Monday at the Foltz Criminal Justice Center for arraignment.

On May 1, Houk and his spouse allegedly  got into a fight in the family’s RV parked in Malibu, according to law enforcement officials.

Houk is accused of pointing a loaded firearm at his wife and threatening to kill her.

The two children, ages 3 and 1, were awakened by the commotion, said a prosecutor with the District Attorney’s office.  

Houk then allegedly drove away and stopped at a gas station.

His wife eventually asked for help from a passerby, who called authorities, according to the District Attorney’s Office.  

Houk fled when Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department deputies responded and a pursuit ensued going through several different law enforcement jurisdictions.

Houk eventually fled from the RV after stopping near Bakersfield, the prosecutor said.

The suspect was later found in Barstow, Nevada, where he was taken into custody.   

Bail has been set at $1 million. The case remains under investigation by the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Major Crimes Bureau.  

Houk is scheduled to return to court May 30 for a continuation of his arraignment.

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