Man Rolls Vehicle, Flees, and is Found in Realtors Trunk
SOUTH JORDAN, UTAH – APRIL 27, 2015 (Gephardt Daily) – On Saturday around 4:30 a.m., officers with the South Jordan Police Department responded to a rollover accident at 11300 S Great Neck Drive. where a black Ford F150 that was traveling on 11400 S and left the roadway had ran through a vinyl fence and rolled over into the backyard of a residence, narrowly missing the house.
The driver of the vehicle fled but left his driver license in the vehicle identifying him as Landon Defa,33, of West Jordan.
At 11:23 a.m. that same day, South Jordan officers were contacted by Utah County Sheriff Deputies they had a suspect in custody that had been found in hiding in the truck of a realtor’s vehicle in Eagle Mountain. The suspect was identified as Landon Defa.
The realtor had left her residence in South Jordan and while at a residence in Eagle Mountain, her car alarm went off but everything was okay. She then proceeded to a second residence in Eagle Mountain and after showing that house, she went back to her vehicle where she saw the backseat down and legs sticking out. She then made the call to police.
Officers took custody of Mr. Defa and interviewed him regarding the trespassing and hit and run. At that Mr. Defa admitted to being the driver of the truck and he was, “running for his life,” (for unknown reasons). Mr. Defa stated after crashing, he then fled on foot and he entered a garage belonging to the realtor and entered her vehicle that was parked inside. He hid there until he was discovered by the victim. He has since admitted to using heroin.
Mr. Defa did complain of injuries and was taken to a local hospital for treatment and issued a summons on charges of reckless driving, hit and run and trespassing. He does have a criminal history related to drugs, DUI, assault, unlawful detention and robbery.
“We are very fortunate that the suspect was only seeking a hiding spot. This could have been a serious and tragic scenario if this suspect had intentions of stealing this vehicle or harming this individual. It’s a great reminder to double-check that all doors and windows to your residence are secured at night,” said Master Officer Samuel Winkler of the South Jordan Police Department.
Damage estimates to the property are over $1,000 while the truck was considered a total loss.
