SALT LAKE CITY, Utah, April 5, 2026 (Gephardt Daily) — A man police are describing as a known car thief is in custody after leading officers on an early Sunday morning pursuit that stretched from St. Mark’s Hospital to the area of 400 East 700 South in Salt Lake City, where it ended in a crash.
Unified Police Sgt. Aymee Race told Gephardt Daily the alleged suspect, Mark McGrath, has a history of taking cars for test drives at local auto dealers and then not returning them. He allegedly did just that Saturday, Race said, before he was spotted by a Unified Police officer in the parking lot of St. Mark’s Hospital.
According to Race, the officer got out of his car and McGrath “took off,” almost hitting the officer, who was on foot, forcing him to “jump out of the way.” McGrath then allegedly struck the officer’s vehicle before driving off.
The stolen vehicle was located on I-15, and a pursuit was initiated, Race said.
Multiple agencies responded, including UPD, Utah Highway Patrol, Salt Lake City PD, West Valley City PD, and Salt Lake County Sheriff’s Office. A Department of Public Safety helicopter also took part in the pursuit.
McGrath exited I-15 at 1300 South before making his way north on West Temple. He then headed east on 600 South before reportedly hitting a second vehicle near State Street.
The chase ended near 400 East and 700 South, where a UHP trooper performed a PIT maneuver on the stolen vehicle.
McGrath was arrested without incident or injury and was taken to the Salt Lake County Jail. He was booked for investigation of:
- Theft of an operating motor vehicle, a second-degree felony
- Aggravated assault, a third-degree felony
- Failure to respond to command of police, a third-degree felony
- Unlawful control of a vehicle damaged during operation, a third-degree felony
There were no other reports of injuries.
Gephardt Daily will update this story as more information becomes available.
VIDEO: Gephardt Daily/Samuel Price
