UHP Trooper, Officer Pepper Sprayed During Attempted Arrest, Authorities Say
Sep 18, 2020, 11:52 AM
Photo: Mark Wetzel
MANTUA, Utah – A suspect pepper sprayed a Utah Highway Patrol trooper and a Mantua police officer during an attempted arrest on Wednesday, authorities said.
The suspect is still at large.
According to an incident notification from the Department of Public Safety, the trooper stopped two pedestrians walking on 1100 South near I-15 shortly after 9:30 p.m.
One of the pedestrians gave the trooper false information and “failed to provide the correct personal info when asked repeatedly,” according to DPS.
An officer from the Mantua Police Department was called to assist. The trooper attempted to take the suspect into custody, and the suspect then deployed the pepper spray.
The trooper deployed his Taser, authorities said, but it either missed the suspect or had no effect.
The suspect then fled into a field. Three K9s were deployed, and they tracked the suspect to an area on the railroad tracks, but officials were unable to locate him.
“A Union Pacific train passed through the area very early on,” according to DPS. “It’s possible the suspect was able to jump onto the train.”
Both the trooper and the officer were transported to the Brigham Hospital where they were treated and released.
It was not immediately clear why the trooper stopped the pedestrians.
