SALT LAKE CITY, Utah, Dec. 19, 2018 (Gephardt Daily) — A 22-year-old man who officials say evaded arrest for five days after trying to strike officers with a stolen car during a Metro Gang Unit stakeout is now in custody.
Attillio Reed Renzetti has been booked into the Salt Lake County Jail on suspicion of:
- Two counts of aggravated assault, a second-degree felony
- Receiving or transferring a stolen vehicle, a second-degree felony
- Failure to stop at the command of a law enforcement officer, a third-degree felony
Renzetti was taken into custody at about 5 p.m. Wednesday at the Park Place Apartments, at 731 S. 300 East, Salt Lake City.
“Through investigation techniques, we were able to track him down and took him into custody without incident,” said a statement by the Unified Police Department Metro Gang Unit.
The probable cause statement says that on Friday, officials identified Renzetti, sitting in a red car, in the area of 4100 S. Redwood Road, Taylorsville.
“The A/P (accused person) has active felony warrants for his arrest and is a probation fugitive,” the statement says. “It was decided to make contact with the vehicle due to the suspicious activity.
“A marked patrol vehicle pulled up behind the car while it was at the car wash, and I pulled up on the side of the car wash building in my unmarked vehicle,” says a statement signed by Detective Jerry E. Valdez, Salt Lake County Sheriff’s Office.
Valdez — accompanied by an officer in full uniform who had arrived in a marked patrol car, and a third officer wearing a tactical vest with a police identifier — approached the vehicle.
“As he saw the patrol car get behind him, he began looking around and was making furtive movement and began to back the vehicle up,” the statement says, referring to Renzetti.
“At this time, myself and another officer were in front of the vehicle and were pointing our firearms at the male driving who I identified as Attillio telling him to ‘Stop, police!’ Attillio began to manipulate the vehicle and began driving right in the direction of two officers.”
Both officers were able to jump out of the way, the statement says, “but contact was made on the side window by the officer that was nearly struck, and his firearm broke.”
No officers were hurt, UPD Lt. Ken Malone said at the scene.
The breaking gun made a loud sound, which some officers from the multiple agencies involved at first interpreted as a gunshot, according to information released at the time.
“It was advised the vehicle had a front flat tire and was fleeing heading southbound on Redwood Road,” the statement says. “It was also advised he nearly struck two officers while trying to get away.”
The fleeing vehicle, containing the suspect and a female passenger, sped off.
“Other officers engaged in a vehicle pursuit due to the aggravated assault on police officers,” the probable cause statement says. “The vehicle ended up crashing at 4770 Settler’s Point Apartments, located at 4770 S. 1565 West.”
One tire on the car was flattened when it struck a curb. The car came close to hitting the apartment building.
Malone said at the scene that the suspect fled on foot and escaped the area despite a police search and the use of K-9 officers and a Department of Public Safety helicopter.
The female passenger was cuffed and questioned by police. Her name has not been released.
“The vehicle was confirmed stolen and was recovered along with multiple paraphernalia items and multiple swords,” the probable cause statement says.
“On 12/19/2018 through investigative techniques Attillio was located and arrested without incident and transport to Salt Lake County Metro Jail without incident.”
