CEDAR CITY, Utah, May 14, 2019 (Gephardt Daily) — A California man was arrested on Tuesday after Cedar City Police say he demanded money at a car wash, stole a truck, and nearly caused several collisions before leading officers on a 90 mph chase.
Richard Anthony Cubillo Callahan, 22, of Moreno Valley, Calif., was taken into custody and booked into the Iron County Jail.
The incident began at about 10:24 a.m., the Cedar City Police statement says.
“Cedar Communications received a report of a suspicious male demanding money at the Tagg N Go car wash,” it says. “The suspect was denied money, so he entered a victim’s vehicle and was confronted by a bystander.
“The suspect got into a black 1994 Chevrolet truck with a Nevada license plate and accelerated narrowly missing a female standing in the area. The suspect hit the curb going the wrong way at the entrance to the car wash and struck an entrance gate causing damage.”
Next, the man, later identified as Cubillo Callahan, entered Main Street nearly causing crashes and drove into oncoming traffic, the CCPD statement says. The bystander and several others called 911 until police intercepted the suspect in the area of 600 S Main Street.
“The Cedar City Police Department attempted to stop the vehicle, but the vehicle failed to respond to lights and siren,” the statement says. “The suspect continued northbound on Main Street, at normal speed, for several blocks before making a sharp turn into the post office where officers attempted to block the exits.
“The suspect drove over the grass and entered Main Street again going southbound still refusing to stop. The suspect went westbound on 200 North increasing his speed and quickly turned on northbound I-15. The suspect accelerated to higher rates of speed, going over 90 mph on I-15.”
Iron County Sheriff and Utah Highway Patrol officers blocked the off ramps “to keep the suspect out of the city, and set up spike strips,” the account says. “The pursuit continued northbound on I-15 and the suspect hit a couple sets of spike strips causing the tires to deflate.
“The suspect was driving erratically swerving back and forth across both lanes. The suspect finally gave up and pulled over at mile marker 78 where he was safely taken into custody.”
The suspect was uninjured, but was taken to Cedar City Hospital for clearance before being taken to the Iron County Jail for booking on multiple charges, the statement says. Cubillo Callahan did exhibit signs of impairment, the police statement says.
Cubillo Callahan has been booked on suspicion of:
- Receiving/possession of stolen property, a second-degree felony
- Failure to stop at the command of an officer, a third-degree felony
- Aggravated assault, a third-degree felony
- Reckless endangerment, a class A misdemeanor
- Impersonating an officer, a class B misdemeanor
- Two counts of criminal mischief, a class B misdemeanor
- Reckless driving, a class B misdemeanor
- Failure to remain at the scene of a damage accident, a class B misdemeanor
- Burglary of a vehicle, a class A misdemeanor
- Driving on a revoked licence, a class C misdemeanor
- Open container in a vehicle, a class C misdemeanor
The CCPD is asking for any witnesses to come to the police department and fill out a witness statement. The case number is # C19-01693.
