SALT LAKE COUNTY, Utah, Oct. 12, 2018 (Gephardt Daily) — A 25-year-old man is in custody Friday after leading police from multiple agencies on a pursuit in a stolen vehicle.
According to a Utah Highway Patrol news release, an off-duty Salt Lake City police officer spotted a stolen vehicle on Interstate 15 near 9000 South at about 4:04 p.m.
The officer tried to stop the vehicle, but the driver fled, taking the 10600 South exit.
After going west on 10600 South, the vehicle turned north on Jordan Parkway, heading into oncoming traffic. The SLCPD officer terminated the pursuit, and Sandy police took over the attempt to stop the stolen vehicle.
“The driver fled again and struck a construction sign. Sandy terminated when the driver again went into oncoming traffic,” the UHP news release states.
A Department of Public Safety helicopter, returning from a search and rescue mission in Juab County, then joined the effort to stop the stolen vehicle.
The driver of the vehicle turned east onto 9000 South and went back onto I-15, where traffic was congested.
“He jumped out of the car while on the freeway and fled on foot over the barricade on the right shoulder, trying to hide in some bushes,” the release says.
“A UHP trooper arrived in the area and found the abandoned stolen car rolling down the right travel lane. He was able to put the car in park and then set up for containment as the helicopter flew overhead.”
The helicopter used the public address speaker to tell the driver to come out of the bushes.
Dustin Gunther, of Magna, was taken into custody by South Jordan police officers. Gunther is currently on parole, so Adult Probation and Parole also was contacted.
“Troopers recovered stolen credit cards and IDs, as well as drugs and paraphernalia,” in addition to the stolen vehicle, according to the news release.
UHP is leading the investigation and is working along with the State Bureau of Investigation to determine the exact sequence of events.
