Fleeing suspect rams Utah police cars in pursuit, smashes window with head

BOX ELDER COUNTY, Utah — A man who threatened citizens, led multiple police agencies on a chase that left the suspect injured and arrested for suspicion of at least four counts of aggravated assault against police officers.

Brigham City Police Chief Chad Reyes said the man, identified as 47-year-old Brandon Chappell, tried to hit officers with his vehicle and smashed through the window of an officer’s vehicle — with his head, contributing to the need to take him to a hospital after he was restrained by officers.

Reyes said Chappell confronted a man in a Brigham City park at 400 South and 1200 West and, according to the man, tried to provoke him while he was with his son. The man reported Chappell “wanted to do violence.” The man told police the person who confronted him was armed with a knife.

Pursuit started in Box Elder County. Suspect rammed two Deputy cars with his, then a Trooper after an attempted PIT maneuver, then he rammed the window of the vehicle he was detained in with his head.
SB I-15 shut down at 357 offramp.

— Brian Champagne (@newschamp) April 2, 2022

The man believed the encounter was random and believed Chappell was having a mental episode of some kind. According to Reyes, the citizen escaped the confrontation and was on his way to the Brigham City Police Department when he saw and flagged down an officer to report the situation at approximately 3:08 p.m. Sunday.

Police went to the park to talk to Chappell and spotted him in his car but he fled from them heading westbound on Forrest Street. Police performed a high-risk stop and it appeared Chappell would surrender but instead backed up into one of Brigham City PD’s police vehicles. Reyes said the officer was able to jump out of the way of Chappell’s car in the collision.

During the course of pursuit Chappell also rammed other vehicles and made it to the freeway, taking police through Brigham City, Willard, Perry and in Utah Highway Patrol jurisdiction. Speeds in the pursuit reached over 100 mph at some point, according to police.

Chappell’s car was disabled on Interstate 15 at exit 357, near Willard Bay Reservoir. After his car was disabled he refused to leave it, so officers “extracted him” and Chappell continued to resist efforts to arrest him.

Lane Closure: The far left lane of southbound I-15 at mile marker 357 is closed for a police incident. Be prepared for traffic delays and move over for emergency responders. pic.twitter.com/qUBGe4Ij2Z

— Utah Highway Patrol (@UTHighwayPatrol) April 2, 2022

Reyes said Chappell smashed through a window of a Perry police officer’s vehicle — with his head, presumably while in restraints — and was transported to the hospital for evaluation but didn’t appear to be injured. During the arrest I-15 was shut down to avoid interference with police.

Reyes said the violent pursuit took place between approximately 3:08 p.m. and 3:57 p.m.

KSL also spoke with Todd Amidan who said a stranger confronted him while he was in his driveway, and asked if he had seen a woman with a dog. The man said he had not seen anyone and he said the person confronting him accused him of lying and told the resident he was going to kill him, “cut his face off” and “wear it all around town.”

“He went totally berserk, man,” Amidan said.

Police canvased the area to find other witnesses.