TOOELE COUNTY, Utah, April 20, 2024 (Gephardt Daily) — A 24-year-old man was booked into the Tooele County jail after he was clocked going 112 MPH Friday night on Interstate 80.
A Utah Highway Patrol trooper initiated a traffic stop since the speed limit was 80 in that area, near mile marker 42.
“I made a passenger side approach, and as I reached the rear bumper, the driver put the vehicle into gear and fled from the traffic stop,” says the UPH trooper’s affidavit, filed in the arrest of Damon David Juarez.
“I returned to my vehicle and initiated a pursuit. I pursued the violator at speeds of up to 130 MPH and he failed to maintain a single lane multiple times during the pursuit. Forty-six miles later at mile marker 88 his vehicle was successfully spiked.
The trooper noticed the smell of alcohol while placing Juarez into the patrol vehicle, and a records check showed his driver license had expired in 2020.
A mostly used THC vape cartridge was found in his pants pocket, and several more were found in his car, as was a raw marijuana leaf, the affidavit says. Juarez did not have a medical marijuana card. Two open beers and an open bottle of Tequila were found in the vehicle.
A female passenger in the car told the officer she and Juarez had gone to Wendover, and were drinking, and bought marijuana, the affidavit says.
“She told me that Damon had fled from the traffic stop due to his warrants.”
Juarez was arrested for investigation for failure to stop or respond at command of police, a third-degree felony; and misdemeanor charges related to drug possession, driving under the influence and driving recklessly.
He was ordered held without bail. No arrest records for his passenger could immediately be found.
