JUAB COUNTY, Utah, Feb. 28, 2018 (Gephardt Daily) — A 27-year-old woman was arrested Tuesday morning after fleeing from a traffic stop and then causing an elementary school to be locked down when her vehicle was found abandoned nearby.
According to a Utah Highway Patrol news release, the incident began when Trooper Jeff Blankenagle stopped a gray 2008 Volkswagen Passat for speeding 89 mph in an 80 mph zone.
As Blankenagle approached, the driver sped away and a pursuit ensued.
With speeds reaching 130 mph, the suspect, later identified as Regina N. Farrell, left the interstate at Milepost 222 and went north into Nephi, the release states.
Blankenagle terminated the pursuit and radioed a description of the vehicle to other agencies.
While officers searched the area, the release says, a school resource officer from Nephi found the Passat abandoned in the parking lot of Red Cliffs Elementary School.
The school was put into lock down, and officers converged on the scene to search the school grounds for the driver.
Authorities also reviewed video to identify whoever had been in the vehicle, and saw that one woman had gotten out of the car.
According to the news release, the woman attempted to enter the school through the front door and several other locked outside doors.
“A short time later we received a call that a couple was giving a ride to a female that was found hiding near a house that is about half a block from the school,” the release says. “When they got near Mona, they got spooked and the female jumped out near a gas station.”
Farrell was taken into custody as she stood near the side of the store, and was positively identified from the school’s video.
UHP says a search warrant was served on the vehicle “that revealed numerous incidents of identity theft and credit card fraud. It is also apparent that she travels extensively committing return fraud on merchandise that was bought with stolen checks or cards.”
The vehicle was registered to Farrell, and she had six warrants for her arrest totaling $45,505, the release states.
She is also being investigated for DUI/drugs. The State Bureau of Investigation is involved in that aspect of the case, according to the news release.
Farrell was booked into the Juab County jail.
