WEST JORDAN, Utah, Nov. 8, 2016 (Gephardt Daily) — West Jordan Police have a man in custody who allegedly attempted to steal multiple cars and threatened a homeowner at knifepoint Tuesday morning.
Exact details of the crime spree are still emerging, said Unified Police Det. Jared Richardson, but it all began at approximately 7:20 a.m. Richardson said the suspect tried to steal a parked vehicle from the area of 7600 South and 2030 West in West Jordan, but when he opened the door, he saw children were inside.
Richardson said the man then walked to another car that was parked but running at West Jordan Middle School at 7600 S. 1800 West. As he attempted to drive away, the crossing guard, whose car it was, tried to stop him, Richardson said.
The suspect knocked her to the ground, injuring her shoulder. The crossing guard went to the hospital to be checked out.
The suspect drove to the Kearns/Taylorsville area and abandoned that vehicle. Richardson said he then stole a second vehicle and abandoned that vehicle in the area of 5944 S. 2600 West.
Richardson said the suspect then allegedly entered a house, though it is not clear at this point if he broke into the home or if the door was unlocked. The suspect reportedly brandished a knife at the homeowner and demanded he be given the keys to the homeowner’s vehicle. The homeowner was able to push the suspect out of the house.
Richardson said the suspect then went to a neighboring house where the homeowner was loading tools into his Ford F-350 truck. The suspect allegedly jumped into the truck and locked the door, then drove away. Richardson said police are still investigating whether the keys were left in the ignition of the cars that were stolen this morning, or if the suspect somehow managed to start the vehicles.
The suspect then drove the truck to the area of 5400 S. 4000 West, where police located him in the Kmart parking lot, Richardson said. The man took off again in the truck and continued driving into traffic, the officer said.
The suspect then crossed over the median into westbound traffic, and the vehicle was disabled, Richardson said. The suspect was taken into custody without incident at 5400 S. 3740 West at approximately 9 a.m.
Richardson said the suspect could be facing charges associated with stealing the vehicles, fleeing, and possibly also home invasion.
Anyone who has information about this incident is asked to call the West Jordan Police Department at 801-256-2000.
