SALT LAKE CITY, Utah, Oct. 4, 2025 (Gephardt Daily) — A man is in custody after a police officer recognized a car at a gas pump as stolen, and the driver backed the vehicle into a gas pump in a failed attempt to flee.
“When the officer attempted to stop the car, the driver put it in reverse, ran into the gas pump, which ignited the gas pumps,” Lt. Leigh Willis, Salt Lake City Police, told Gephardt Daily at the scene, 425 S. Redwood Road.
The man exited the car and fled on foot, “and was captured about a block away,” Willis said. “He’s in custody, and then the fire department came.”
The car was fully engulfed, as was the pump. Salt Lake City Fire crews arrived and put out the blaze. No injuries were reported.
“One in custody, the fire’s out, and just another day in the city,” Willis said.
Photo: Gephardt Daily/Patrick Benedict
