Woman leads police on pursuit in Salt Lake County with 4 children in car

Evelyne Roselee Banta. Photo Courtesy: Salt Lake County Jail

SALT LAKE COUNTY, Utah, April 25, 2019 (Gephardt Daily) — A 26-year-old woman is facing charges including four counts of child abuse after she allegedly led police officers on a high speed chase with her four children in the car.

A probable cause statement from the Third District Court of Salt Lake County said Evelyne Roselee Banta, 26, is facing charges of four counts of child abuse — inflicting serious physical injury recklessly, a third-degree felony; failure to respond to officer’s signal to stop, a third-degree felony; reckless endangerment, a class A misdemeanor; reckless driving, a class B misdemeanor; operating a vehicle without insurance, a class C misdemeanor; and driving on a suspended or revoked license, a class C misdemeanor.

“While on patrol in Midvale City, I noticed a blue SUV which showed as having no insurance via the Utah state database search,” the probable cause statement said. “I was able to see the SUV was occupied by a female driver, Evelyne Roselee Banta, three to four young children and an adult male passenger.”

The officer attempted a traffic stop, near 700 E. 7200 South, for no insurance.

“I began by turning on my overhead emergency lights and pulling directly behind the SUV,” the statement said. “As I was informing dispatch of my traffic stop, Evelyne did not pull to the right, and instead quickly made a right hand turn onto 7200 South and sped westbound on 7200 South.”

Banta entered the intersection on a red light, which almost caused a traffic accident with several cars, the statement went on. She then drove westbound on 7200 South at a high rate of speed and attempted to pull into a side street several blocks away.

She was unable to make the right turn and had to skid to a stop to avoid going off the road and hitting a house.

“Evelyne returned to 7200 South westbound and almost ran head on into assisting officers,” the statement said. “The crash was avoided and Evelyne then attempted to go into a side street on the east side of 7200 South. This side street dead ended and again Evelyne almost went head on into an assisting officer as she exited the dead end road.”

Banta then continued out to 7200 South while cutting other cars off, and was again encountered by officers near 7500 South State St. This time, the suspect drove on the shoulder of State Street and then off the road. She was then stopped by officers.

Inside of the SUV were her four children ranging in age from 1 to 9 years. Also inside was an adult male friend. The man later told the arresting officer he was trying to get Banta to stop for police and believed she was going to crash the SUV.

Banta told the arresting officer she knew he was trying to pull her over, but feared she would be in trouble for driving on a suspended driver license and driving with no insurance. It was confirmed with Banta that she had no vehicle insurance and her California driver license was suspended. Banta told officers she has never had a Utah driver license.

She was transported to Salt Lake County Jail with her bail set at $20,000.

1 COMMENT

  1. The officer knew of the children in the vehicle yet continued a dangerous pursuit which threatened not only the children in the vehicle but the general public. All because of ‘no insurance.’ Unbelievable.

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