Police: Suspect wanted robbery, parole violation leads police in slow-speed chase
Oct 25, 2022, 1:32 PM | Updated: 1:37 pm
The end of the chase involving SLC PD and a suspected store robber. (Salt Lake City Police)
(Salt Lake City Police)
SALT LAKE CITY — A man fled from police after allegedly stealing from a store and confronting employees on Monday.
Jose Benito Guanajuato, 37, was booked into the Salt Lake County Jail for four felony offenses of failing to respond to officers’ signal to stop, one felony offense of robbery, and a misdemeanor offense of interfering with a peace officer, according to arrest documents.
He also had a felony warrant for his arrest of possessing a dangerous weapon by a restricted person, a violation of his parole status.
According to the Salt Lake City Police statement, Guanajuato fled from Bountiful Police in a gray Suzuki car at approximately 10:37 p.m., during which BDP asked SLC PD to look for the suspect.
“A few minutes after being dispatched, an officer saw the suspect car near 600 West North Temple Street and tried to stop it,” reads the SLC PD statement. “Guanajuato refused to stop and drove away while obeying most traffic laws. Officers tried to use stop sticks to try and deflate the car’s tires.”
During the chase, the SLC PD officers decided to stop following Guanajuato because he was obeying most traffic laws.
Overnight, our officers arrested a 37-year-old man on parole wanted for robbery after he led us on a pursuit through downtown, ultimately ending on 3500 South West Temple Street.
Please read our press release for more info: https://t.co/xsUbEhEr6e#saltlakecity #slc #slcpd pic.twitter.com/qUHI4EkuB6
— Salt Lake City Police (@slcpd) October 25, 2022
Soon after officers stopped, they learned that Guanajuato was a suspect in “several recent crimes involving a weapon” and a robbery that happened hours earlier, according to SLC PD.
“With this new information, officers attempted to stop Guanajuato near 1300 South State Street, but he still refused to pull over and kept driving at slow speeds, obeying most traffic laws,” according to the police statement.
SLC PD officers chased Guanajuato southbound on State Street until he turned west on 3500 South and pulled into a Maverik Gas Station parking lot near 3500 South West Temple Street.
According to SLC PD, a bystander blocked Guanajuato’s car with their own vehicle, stopping him from moving his car.
Officers commanded Guanajuato to get out of his car, but he refused. They eventually pulled him from his car and took him into custody without further issue.
According to arrest documents, Guanajuato went to a store earlier Monday and took multiple items without the intention of paying for them.
“(Guanajuato) then exited the property, at which point employees of the property confronted the (suspect) and took hold of the items that (Guanajuato) had in his possession, advising the (suspect) that he could not purchase the items,” reads arrest documents.
Guanajuato told the employee that he would pay for them and that the items he had were now his.
According to arrest documents, the employee got the items back from Guanajuato, and the two were headed back to the store when Guanajuato allegedly tried to grab the items back.
“(Guanajuato) then left the property when he realized he was not able to retain the items, he threw them down near the employee,” states arrest documents. “Upon the employee attempting to recover the items, (Guanajuato) advanced towards the employee, while another employee stepped in to cease this.”
Guanajuato left the car in the gray Suzuki car and told employees he would be back.
Arrest documents and the SLC PD statement did not say where this alleged robbery took place.
