Tooele Police: Man who fled officers in stolen car, truck, taken into custody by SWAT team

TOOELE CITY, Utah, July 30, 2019 (Gephardt Daily) — A man wanted on a felony warrant is in custody after a multi-hour operation that began with him fleeing police in a stolen car.

Sgt. Jeremy Hansen, Tooele Police Department, said officials got a call regarding a suspicious vehicle at about 10:50 a.m. Tuesday. Hansen said the caller suspected there might be a drug deal in progress at the scene, near 160 North and 200 West.

When the man in the passenger car, which was later determined to be stolen, saw responding officers, he fled the scene, Hansen said.

“He hit a power pole at about 400 South and 200 West, and he bailed,” Hansen told Gephardt Daily. “At some point, he stole a red pickup. Neighbors were directing officers which way to go.”

Police next found the red pickup disabled, and witnesses again directed officers, telling them the man had run into an apartment complex at 738 McKeller St.

Hansen was one of the SWAT officers who responded to the scene, he said. After containing the area and obtaining a search warrant, SWAT team members entered the complex and took the suspect into custody without incident at about 1:45 p.m.

“It’s been a pretty exciting morning and afternoon here,” Hansen said.

Suspect William Sbarra, 32, was booked on an existing felony warrant. Additional charges to be filed as a result of today’s incident will include two related to stolen vehicles and two related to fleeing from police, Hansen said.

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