Released inmate steals deputy’s truck while left warming up, deputies say
Mar 8, 2022, 1:08 PM | Updated: 1:38 pm
(Juab Sheriff's Department)
(Juab Sheriff's Department)
JUAB COUNTY, Utah — A recently released inmate is back in custody after officials say he stole a deputy’s unmarked truck while it was left running to warm up, according to a release from the Juab County Sheriff’s Office.
Around 5 a.m. Tuesday, a detective started the truck to warm it up and locked it. However, it was later confirmed there was a “mechanical failure with the driver door,” where the door did not lock even though the detective locked it with his key fob.
Minutes later, the Juab County Jail released an inmate from custody on an unsecured bond issued by a judge for charges including burglary of a vehicle and theft.
Deputies said the inmate approached the running vehicle and got in. The inmate got back out of the vehicle and “ultimately got back in the vehicle and drove away,” the release states.
The vehicle was listed as stolen and tracked as it headed south to Millard County. Nearby agencies were notified and the vehicle was located by the Utah Highway Patrol on northbound I-15 at milepost 211.
Officials said the vehicle’s tires were spiked approximately 10 miles to the north “to avoid the possibility of a pursuit,” and the car exited I-15 in Nephi.
“The vehicle came to a stop and the suspect was taken safely into custody without incident,” authorities said.
