WEST VALLEY CITY, Utah, Dec. 29, 2018 (Gephardt Daily) — It was a cold night to be tracking down a suspect, but that’s exactly what West Valley City police officers did after a man in a stolen vehicle fled from them.
WVCPD Lt. Brandon Christiansen said the officers located the vehicle at 3266 S. Westgene Circle.
“He drove into a cul de sac and, once cornered by the officers, he put it in reverse and drove through somebody’s yard, hitting a car, and going through a fence on the border of West Lake Junior High School.”
The school is at 3400 S. 3450 West.
At that point, the driver — the vehicle’s sole occupant — got out and ran off on foot, hoping to elude the officers.
Police immediately set up a containment perimeter and brought in the K-9 unit. Christiansen said they tracked the man for about an hour and a half.
“With the K-9’s assistance, we found him hunkered down and took him into custody,” he said.
The suspect is now facing charges of possession of a stolen vehicle, fleeing on foot, and hit and run.
Christiansen credited the K-9 unit and the Utah Highway Patrol helicopter for assisting West Valley officers in tracking down the suspect.
A second incident occurred while police were searching for the suspect, when an unrelated vehicle driving through the area failed to stop for an officer. A short pursuit ensued, but was terminated. Officers later found that vehicle abandoned.
