Sheriff: Santaquin man faces multiple felony charges after assaulting ex in Spanish Fork, high-speed chase

Jordan Christensen. Photo: Utah County Sheriff's Office

SPANISH FORK, Utah, Aug. 7, 2017 (Gephardt Daily) — A Santaquin man was arrested recently after breaking into a home, assaulting his ex-wife and later leading officers in a high-speed pursuit.

According to a news release from the Utah County Sheriff’s Office, shortly before 10:30 p.m. Friday, officers with Spanish Fork Police Department responded to a call from a woman who said someone was breaking into her home.

When police arrived, the woman identified the suspect as Jordan Chappel Christensen, 32, of Santaquin.

The release says the victim told officers she had been in a six-year relationship with Christensen. She said Christensen had used a baseball bat to break into her home and then assaulted her with the bat. She also said he took her phone from her while she was talking to 911 dispatchers.

A short while later, Santaquin police officers found a pickup truck at the home in which Christensen was living in Santaquin.

“In the bed of that pickup they found a baseball bat that had on it what looked like blood, and there was similar material found by Spanish Fork Police at the scene of the aggravated burglary in their city,” the release states.

Officers tried to reach anyone in the Santaquin home, but no one answered the door.

“Christensen is on probation with the Utah Department of Adult Probation and Parole and his Probation Officer called him on the phone encouraging him to give himself up,” the release continues. “Christensen denied that he was at the home in Santaquin.”

Officers were preparing an application for a search warrant when a man, later identified as Christensen’s father, opened the door and let the officers come in. As officers searched the home, Christensen ran outside to his truck.

According to the UCSO release, officers and deputies ordered Christensen to stop, but he instead got into his pickup and drove away at speeds reaching 65 mph, with a UCSO deputy in pursuit.

At a point where Christensen’s speed slowed, the deputy used a PIT maneuver, which caused Christensen’s pickup to spin. The truck then crashed into a wall at the Santaquin cemetery.

When Christensen refused to get out of his truck, a deputy sent his K-9 into the pickup.

“Deputies witnessed Christensen hitting the K-9. Other Deputies used a pepper gun and Tasers to subdue Christensen. He was taken into custody at that point and given medical attention,” according to the release.

Christensen had cuts on his arm, which officers believe he got when he broke into the home in Spanish Fork. He was also highly intoxicated, the release states, and was taken to a hospital, where he was admitted for evaluation and treatment.

Christensen is now being held in the Utah County Jail, where he is facing numerous charges.

Spanish Fork officers booked Christensen for: aggravated burglary, a first-degree felony; aggravated assault-domestic violence, a third-degree felony; criminal mischief-domestic violence, a class A misdemeanor; and interruption of communication device, a class B misdemeanor. There was also an active protective order in place for Christensen to stay away from the victim, but it had not been served yet. Bail on the charges brought by Spanish Fork Police has been set at $20,000 cash only.

Deputies booked Christensen on the following charges: DUI with two or more prior convictions, a third-degree felony; evading/failure to stop at command of law enforcement, a third-degree felony; failure to stop at command of law enforcement, a class A misdemeanor; interference with arresting officer, a class B misdemeanor; interfering with a police service animal, a class A misdemeanor; open container, a class C misdemeanor; alcohol restricted driver, a class B misdemeanor; driving without ignition interlock device installed, a class B misdemeanor; and driving on alcohol revoked driver license, a class B misdemeanor.

AP&P also placed Christensen on a probation hold pending an order to show cause hearing.

Bail on the charges brought by the Utah County Sheriff’s Office has been set at $10,000 cash only. There is no bail for the AP&P hold.

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