MAGNA, Utah, May 8, 2021 (Gephardt Daily) — A fugitive on felony probation who reportedly fled from police a day earlier was taken into custody early Saturday officers the license plate from the night before on a different vehicle.
Michael Jonathan Collins, 34, was taken into custody on existing charges. Additional charges are likely to be added at a future date.
The vehicle with the previously seen plate was spotted at a Midvale motel, Sgt. Melody Cutler told Gephardt Daily.
“The officer was able to pull alongside him to visually verify the driver was the individual,” she said of the Saturday morning siting.
UPD officers began to follow the suspect while Utah Highway Patrol officers got in place ahead, she said. There was no chase, Cutler said.
“They followed him to I-15, then to I-80 near Saltair,” Cutler said. “There, they did a high-risk stop, and were able to take him into custody.”
The stop involved placing spike strips, which an officer mistakenly ran over, Cutler confirmed.
“They found multiple guns in his vehicle,” Cutler said of Collins’ car.
She said at least one gun at the serial number filed down, so it was unknown if the guns were stolen.
Collins’ most recent arrest was in November, and included one count of possession of a dangerous weapon by a restricted person, a second-degree felony, along with lesser charges.
