LOGAN, Utah, Nov. 9, 2024 (Gephardt Daily) — Multiple law enforcement agencies responded Friday night after an armed suspect believed to have committed retail theft at the south Logan Walmart fled police, hit multiple vehicles, and refused to leave the crashed, stolen vehicle he was in.
“Initial reports indicated the suspect had fled the scene prior to Logan City Police officers’ arrival” at the Walmart, says a statement released by the Cache County Sheriff‘s Office.
“Deputies quickly located the suspect’s vehicle nearby and attempted a traffic stop. The driver briefly stopped in a nearby parking lot and released a female passenger before fleeing the area. During the attempt to evade deputies, the suspect crashed into multiple vehicles and caused property damage, prompting deputies to initiate a pursuit to prevent further harm to innocent citizens.”
The pursuit came to an end when the suspect crashed into another vehicle at 1700 S. SR-165 (Main Street), in the Providence area, the CCSO statement says.
“Cache County deputies, Logan City officers and Utah State troopers immediately provided aid to those involved in the collisions and worked to apprehend the suspect, who refused to exit the vehicle and claimed to have a firearm. Given the circumstances, the Cache/Logan SWAT team was called to assist.
“SWAT negotiators made multiple attempts to have the suspect surrender peacefully, but the individual remained non-compliant and armed. Less-lethal pepper ball rounds were eventually deployed, leading to the suspect’s surrender without further incident.”
Arrest documents identify the alleged suspect as Robert Keith Bloomer, 53. He was arrested at 1:06 a.m. Saturday for investigation of:
- Two counts of receipt or transfer of a stolen vehicle, a second-degree felony
- Failure to stop at command of police, a third-degree felony
- Possession of a firearm by a restricted person, a third-degree felony
- Unlawful possession of another person’s documents, 1-2, a third-degree felony
- Unlawful acquisition, possession of a financial card, a third-degree felony
- Obstruction of justice, a third-degree felony
- Possession of a controlled substances schedule I/II/analog, a class A misdemeanor
- Reckless endangerment, a class A misdemeanor
- Two count of providing peace officer false information of an actual person, a class A misdemeanor
- Possession or use of drug paraphernalia, a class B misdemeanor
- Driving with measurable amounts of controlled substances, a class B misdemeanor
- Driving on a suspended, revoked or disqualified license under specific circumstances, a class B misdemeanor
- Four infractions: failure to obey traffic devices; stop lamps, turn signals; unsafe lane travel; plates to be visible from 100 feet
As always, the county attorney’s office will determine charges should the case go to trial.
Bloomer was ordered held without bail in the Cache County jail.
