SALT LAKE CITY — A man is in police custody after allegedly fleeing from police and crashing into a traffic light Monday morning.

Johnny Qintana, 25,  was booked into the Salt Lake County Jail for one felony charge of theft of a vehicle, misdemeanor charges of driving on a suspended license, and an accident involving property damage, according to the affidavit. He also received a traffic infraction for improper turning.

At approximately 8:19 a.m., a Salt Lake City Police officer was patrolling a “focus area” near 1000 W North Temple.

During the patrol, “the officer saw a suspicious SUV surrounded by several people in the parking area of a local business,” according to SLCPD. “Those people immediately walked away from the SUV when they noticed the officer.”

The driver of the SUV fled from the business at a high rate of speed.

The SLCPD officer began to search for the SUV and found it crashed into a traffic light with the airbag deployed at 1000 West North Temple, according to SLCPD.

Witnesses of the crash told officers that the driver fled on foot and directed them to Qintana position. SLCPD officers were able to arrest Qintana without further issue.

According to police, the SUV was stolen from Farmington overnight.

Quintana was sent to a local hospital to be treated for his injuries and was booked into jail after being cleared.

Today, while patrolling a “focus area,” officers arrested a 26-year-old man who allegedly crashed a stolen SUV and ran from them.

We want to thank the community members who saw the suspect running and helped officers.

Link: https://t.co/AbPs5Y69CO#SLC #SLCPD #SaltLakeCity pic.twitter.com/NzHCLvpRXp

— Salt Lake City Police (@slcpd) November 7, 2022

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