UTAH COUNTY, Utah, Dec. 26, 2016 (Gephardt Daily) — A 23-year-old man from Magna led a sergeant on a 37-mile chase through Utah County Monday morning.
Jonathan Cody Smith, of Taylorsville, had three $25,000 cash-only warrants in Third District Court, according to Sgt. Spencer Cannon of Utah County Sheriff’s Office.
The chase started in Saratoga Springs at approximately 8:55 a.m., Cannon said, when a sergeant tried to stop Smith for running a red light. The chase then continued for 37 miles, south on Redwood Road to Goshen, and ended when Smith crashed into a fence.
Cannon said a sergeant with the USCO was preparing to turn left from Redwood Road onto Pony Express Parkway in Saratoga Springs. As the light turned green, the driver of a white GMC Yukon, driving south, entered the median and passed cars who were preparing to continue south with the green light. The Sergeant turned and attempted to stop this person, but the driver of the Yukon refused to pull over.
The driver of the Yukon, Smith, drove at speeds in excess of 100 mph south on Redwood Road (State Road 68). There was very little traffic as deputies continued pursuing Smith. During the pursuit Smith repeatedly drove left of the center line, passed a car in a no-passing zone, and ran a stop sign at the intersection of SR-68 and SR-6 in Elberta.
SR-68 ends in this area, but Smith continued south on 12800 West until he reached 17600 South where he turned east. The road turned into Goshen Slant Road, then Sandhill Road as Smith neared Goshen. Sandhill Road is a very narrow, unmarked two-lane road. In this area, Smith lost control of his Yukon and crashed into a fence.
Smith then got out of his car and fled on foot. After a short foot pursuit, deputies took Smith into custody without further incident. From where this pursuit began the distance over which Smith refused to stop for deputies and Santaquin officers was over 37 miles.
Smith sustained minor injuries and was taken by ambulance to Utah Valley Regional Medical Center in Provo. He has now been taken to the Utah County Jail in Spanish Fork. Smith will be booked for the following charges: failure to stop for emergency vehicle, DUI-Drugs, two counts of possession of ID documents of another person, unlawful possession of a financial transaction card, possession of lost/stolen/mislaid property, failure to maintain lane of travel, unsafe passing, passing in a no-passing zone, failure to stop on red light, failure to stop at stop sign, failure to signal, no brake light, obstructed license plate, no proof of insurance, failure to remain at the scene of an accident, possession of methamphetamine, possession of drug paraphernalia, exhibition of speed and reckless driving.
Deputies also found three arrest warrants for Smith for incidents in 2015, and each had cash-only bail amounts of $25,000. Charges on those warrants include theft, burglary, giving false personal identity to a peace officer, carrying a concealed weapon on a bus, possession of a firearm by a restricted person, possession of drug paraphernalia, theft of services, theft by receiving and arson.
Smith has an extensive criminal history as an adult since he turned 18 in 2011. Smith’s criminal history includes, among other things, convictions for robbery, assault, burglary, receiving stolen property, drug possession and arson. Smith is also currently on felony probation.
