Police pursue porch-theft suspect into home of sleeping Summit County family

SUMMIT COUNTY, Utah — A 23-year-old man from Preston, Idaho was arrested Friday after authorities say he stole a package off a front porch in Summit County and then fled pursuing officers.

The incident began around 2:25 a.m. when deputies received a call from a resident in the Summit Park area, stating that someone had just stolen a package from his front porch. After the resident provided a description of the man, a deputy located the suspect vehicle driving on Kilby Road.

“The deputy initiated a traffic stop on the 2013 Lexus sedan, which was listed stolen by Murray Police Department,” stated a Facebook post from the Summit County Sheriff’s Office.

Authorities said the driver of the vehicle, identified as Anthony Ortega, did not stop for the deputy.

“The deputy pursued Ortega onto I-80 eastbound. Ortega exited at Kimball Junction, made a U-turn, and got back onto I-80 westbound, but not before deputies successfully deployed tire spikes on the suspect vehicle.”

After Ortega exited at Jeremy Ranch, authorities said he parked the car on Homestead Road and took off running.

A Summit County Sheriff K-9 was then deployed to help track Ortega’s movements.

“Ortega entered a residence on Homestead Road through an unlocked rear door of the home,” read the post. “A family was asleep inside the residence when Ortega entered.”

Minutes later, deputies searched the residence, according to the Sheriff’s Office, where Ortega was found hiding in a utility closet. He was taken into custody without incident. No one was injured.

“We are grateful to the resident who immediately called us after seeing his property stolen by Ortega,” the post concluded.

Ortega was booked into the Summit County Jail on numerous felony charges — including possession of a stolen vehicle, evading, and aggravated burglary, among others — and 14 arrest warrants.