Authorities use spikes, pit maneuver, gas to apprehend driver in Cache County
May 5, 2022, 10:14 AM | Updated: 10:51 am
(Utah Highway Patrol)
(Utah Highway Patrol)
CACHE COUNTY, Utah — A 31-year-old man was taken into custody early Thursday morning after authorities say he was driving erratically through Cache County and failing to yield to troopers.
The incident began around 9:08 p.m. Wednesday when an individual called to complain about a charcoal gray Mercedes van with Nevada plates.
According to the Utah Highway Patrol, the complainant said the van was driving erratically on U.S. Highway 89/91 near Wellsville and flashing its lights behind them.
Troopers eventually located the van on U.S. 91 near Smithfield and attempted to stop it, but the car failed to yield and continued traveling northbound.
“The Trooper did not pursue, but did follow at a distance to keep eyes on,” UHP stated in their release.
UHP says the trooper observed the van make a U-turn at the south end of Richmond to come back southbound. A traffic stop was initiated, but the vehicle continued on southbound.
“The vehicle then made another U-turn and continued this behavior for a bit at lower speeds,” stated the release.
The pursuit was terminated, according to UHP, once the van reached Smithfield again, but troopers and some other local units kept eyes on it as it continued southbound into Logan.
“The vehicle ran every red light it came to,” stated the release.
UHP officials said for a time, responding officers lost sight of the van. But a motorist ended up spotting the car and calling it in, saying the car was driving recklessly and heading northbound into Logan Canyon.
Rich County deputies then set up spikes near the county line.
The van was successfully spiked, according to UHP, but it continued to flee.
At milepost 494, a UHP trooper conducted a successful pit maneuver, bringing the van to a stop.
“The vehicle was in a bad spot and driver would not comply with officers commands,” stated the release.
SWAT was then called out to the scene, and after a gas deployment, the driver was taken into custody around 2:45 a.m. Thursday.
The man’s identity has not been released.
