EAGLE MOUNTAIN, Utah, Dec. 24, 2018 (Gephardt Daily) — One suspect is in custody and another has been identified and is on deputies’ radar after multiple vehicle burglaries Sunday, most of them involving cars outside two Eagle Mountain churches.
“Thank goodness for dashcams,” Sgt. Spencer Cannon, Utah County Sheriff, told Gephardt Daily.
“Tips from the public were very helpful in identifying the men, and in helping us act quickly in this case.”
The man arrested following a car chase on Sunday is Bradlee D. Kalkbrenner, 34, of Pleasant Grove. He has been booked into the Utah County Jail at least 16 times before.
Kalkbrenner’s current booking consists of 35 charges:
- Seven counts of burglary of a vehicle, a class A misdemeanor
- Ten counts of acquisition/possession/transfer of a financial card, a third-degree felony
- Seven counts of theft with a value of less than $5,000 with two prior convictions, a third-degree felony
- Reckless driving, a class B misdemeanor
- Reckless endangerment, a class A misdemeanor
- Driving on a denied license, a class B misdemeanor
- Two counts of criminal mischief, one a third-degree felony and one a class A misdemeanor
- Failure to respond to an officer’s signal to stop, a third-degree felony
- Use or possession of drug paraphernalia, a class B misdemeanor
- Three counts of possession of a controlled substance schedule 1 or 2, a third-degree felony
- Possession of a controlled substance, marijuana/spice, a class B misdemeanor
The second suspect should be in custody shortly, Cannon predicted.
The burglaries
One burglary was of a car parked near the residence of Kalkbrenner, who lives in the 3600 block of E. Royal Troon Drive. A Samsung tablet was taken from the vehicle of a neighbor.
The next three burglaries were near 7250 N. Porters Crossing, the statement says. At least three financial transaction cards were stolen, as were wallets and IDs.
The next three vehicle burglaries occurred at 7287 N. Ute Drive. At that site, three vehicles were entered, and at least one had its window broken for access.
“The suspects stole ID’s, wallets, purses, cash and at least 10 financial transaction cards,” the probable cause statement says. “Also at this scene was a bag that had been stolen from the vehicle burglary on 7250 N. Porters Crossing, Eagle Mountain.”
At the third scene, a dash camera was mounted on a vehicle.
“The dash camera captured two suspects committing the vehicle burglaries. Still shots were released to the media. As we were gathering information, we were advised at least two of the stolen credit cards had been used.
“Almost immediately, UCSO deputies began receiving multiple phone calls from approximately 10 people who do not have ties to this case identifying Bradlee Kalkbrenner as one of the suspects. Another person called who was the victim in the first vehicle burglary identified one of the suspects as Kalkbrenner and stated she had seen him this same day and he was even wearing the same clothing.”
A search warrant was obtained for Kalkbrenner’s residence, 3687 E. Royal Troon Drive, the statement says. Kalkbrenner was not at the home, but contacted another resident and said he was coming by.
The chase
“Within a few minutes, a Lexus drove by the home at a very high rate of speed,” the statement says. “Deputies caught up to the vehicle and attempted a traffic stop. The vehicle fled from law enforcement and a pursuit was started. During the pursuit I got behind Kalkbrenner and had my lights and siren activated.
“Kalkbrenner drove over a grassy knoll, the wrong direction on Ranches Drive. Speeds during the pursuit reached approximately 70-80 mph in a 40 mph zone. The vehicle then ran a red light on SR-73 and continued evading police through neighborhoods in
Eagle Mountain.”
The car went through several construction areas, and was becoming disabled, the statement says. At one point, the vehicle intentionally drove through the front and back yard of a home and crashed through a fence.
Deputies took Kalkbrenner into custody.
“Kalkbrenner showed signs of impairment and drugs were observed in the vehicle. The vehicle was searched and at least one document was located in the vehicle belonging to one of the vehicle burglaries listed above. Also in the vehicle deputies located methamphetamine, heroin, marijuana and several items of drug paraphernalia.”
Kalkbrenner was transported to the sheriff’s office, and was read his Miranda rights. He declined to answer questions or to provide blood or urine samples. After a warrant was obtained, blood was taken from Kalkbrenner, but he declined to provide urine.
The total value of items stolen during vehicle robberies is estimated at $1,000, the statement says. Damages caused during the pursuit are estimated to be more than $2,000.
A criminal history of Kalkbrenner, included in the probable cause statement, listed multiple larceny, DUI, burglary, false information and drug charges dating back to 2003.
Kalkbrenner is being held in lieu of $29,920 cash-only bail.
