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DRAPER, Utah, Aug. 23, 2019 (Gephardt Daily) — Lights flashed and sirens wailed in Draper overnight after a motorcyclist who had run from police earlier in the evening managed to steal a Draper City Police car and then sped off with the officer’s weapons inside.
The game of cat and mouse began at midnight when a Cottonwood Heights police officer tried to stop a motorcyclist who was cruising southbound on 1300 East without a license plate.
The motorcyclist took off leading the Cottonwood Heights patrol officer on a winding chase that reached speeds of 90 mph before hitting the Draper city limits. Once the pursuit reached 10600 South, the Cottonwood Heights officer terminated the chase.
About 10 minutes later, police in Draper spotted the motorcyclist driving down the sidewalk near 11685 S. Pond Ridge Drive. An officer jumped from his patrol vehicle and confronted the man who abandoned his bike and then ran into the surrounding neighborhood.
The officer chased after him only to see the suspect double back and steal his police cruiser, which was unlocked and open. As the suspect sped off, the Draper officer told dispatchers his rifle and a Glock pistol were inside his vehicle.
With other officers giving chase, the suspect headed south before turning north where he reached speeds of 110 mph.
The chase finally came to an end when a Unified Police officer spiked the suspect’s front tires near 9400 South 700 East.
Moments later the stolen cruiser crashed while attempting to turn into a neighborhood about 20 blocks from where the vehicle was spiked.
The suspect was taken into custody without further incident.
Investigators did not release the suspect’s name, but did say a records search revealed he was a wanted parole fugitive.
