PLAIN CITY, Utah, Jan. 26, 2018 (Gephardt Daily) — A man described by officials as a known gang member has been arrested, and the Weber County Sheriff’s Office is thanking watchful residents for their help in his apprehension.
According to a WCSO news release, at about 3 p.m. Thursday in Ogden, the Ogden Metro Gang Unit tried to stop a vehicle driven by James Moncada.
The vehicle fled from gang detectives. They did not pursue.
A short while later, a sheriff’s deputy received a phone call from a resident, reporting that a vehicle was speeding through a school zone in Farr West and was passing other vehicles at a high rate of speed.
Deputies went to the area to try to find the vehicle.
A Plain City resident then called dispatch about a suspicious vehicle near 3400 West and 2300 North. The resident said a green sedan with one of its tires shredded was in their neighborhood. They then told the dispatcher that the male driver jumped out of the car and ran toward a field.
The news release states that deputies were in the area and spotted Moncada running near some homes that are under construction. Deputies pursued Moncada on foot and took him into custody.
A loaded firearm was found on the path where Moncada had run, officials said in the release.
Moncada was booked into Weber County Jail and faces charges of evading, avoiding apprehension, possession of a firearm by restricted person and speeding in a school zone.
The WCSO news release concluded:
“We would like to thank those citizens for their quick responses and information they had provided. Law Enforcement heavily relies on the eyes and ears of residents and this is a perfect example. Without their assistance yesterday, this situation may have turned out worse.”
