Driver suspected of DUI takes out signs, light pole; meanwhile, motorcycle rider flees on I-15

Oleksandr Filon Composite image with background photo by Oleksandr Filon /iStock/Getty Images Plus; overlay stock photo by Cody Blowers, St. George News

ST. GEORGE — Two men were booked into jail on felony charges of evading arrest minutes apart Thursday following two unrelated incidents, one of which involved an alleged DUI driver who allegedly took out several road signs and a light pole on I-15, while a motorcycle rider reportedly created a ruse, took off and ran from officers in Hurricane. He was later arrested in Washington City.

2016 file photo for illustrative purposes only of officers on Washington Parkway and E. Telegraph Street in Washington, Utah, Jan. 9, 2016 | Photo by Cody Blowers, St. George News

On Thursday, officers were notified of a Dodge flatbed pickup that was reportedly going more than 100 mph and unable to maintain lane travel as it headed towards Interstate 15.

A second 911 caller reported the same pickup truck heading south on I-15, and according to the caller, the Dodge was all over the roadway, taking out several signs and a light pole in the process. The Dodge left the freeway at Exit 10 and continued into  Washington City, where an officer spotted the vehicle heading east on Telegraph and turned around to catch up to the truck.

While trailing the pickup, the officer noticed heavy damage to the driver side door, as well as damage running down the side of the truck. The officer also noted one of the truck’s windows was cracked and the driver’s side mirror was missing – damage consistent with being involved in a crash of some type.

The officer activated his emergency lights intent on stopping the truck.

“I was in my department issued patrol vehicle with an overhead light bar and bold ‘police’ letters marked down both sides, clearly showing it was a police vehicle,” the officer stated, but instead of pulling over, the Dodge continued east on Telegraph.

With lights and sirens still activated, the officer continued trailing the Dodge in an attempt to stop the vehicle that continued down the roadway. At one point, the officer pulled up alongside the pickup to get the driver’s attention, and even with the driver’s side window missing, the driver did not seem to notice the officer, nor did he appear to hear the siren that continued blaring from the patrol vehicle.

After several blocks, the Dodge pulled over near 200 West, which is when the officer approached and spoke to the driver who was identified by his driver’s license as 55-year-old Jacques Michel Jasmin of Washington City.

Officers removed Jasmin from the truck, and said they noticed a strong odor of alcohol. His balance appeared unstable to the point he was unable to stand without assistance. The officers also said Jasmin’s actions appeared labored and he appeared to be disoriented, so the field sobriety test was terminated shortly after it began, due to safety issues.

A portable breathalyzer was administered and showed a blood alcohol level of .172, more than three times the legal limit in Utah. Jasmin was transported to St. George Regional Hospital for medical clearance before being booked into jail on felony evading and other misdemeanor traffic-related charges.

Officers with the Washington City Police Department also assisted with another evading incident 14 hours earlier involving a suspect who reportedly evaded officers in Hurricane. He was arrested and booked into jail shortly after 2 a.m. on Thursday.

The incident began when a patrol officer heading east on State Street in Hurricane noticed a motorcycle pass him going in the opposite direction at a high rate of speed. The officer recorded the bike on radar doing 82 mph.

2017 file photo of officers responding to a collision on State Street, Hurricane, Utah, July 9, 2017 | Photo by Ron Chaffin, St. George News

The officer turned around and activated his emergency lights and siren, but the bike continued accelerating away from his pursuer.

It was not until the bike approached the intersection of 6300 West and State Street that the rider stopped for the traffic light, and as he did so, the officer noted, the rider looked back at the officer who still had his emergency lights activated and pointed to the side of the road, “as if to indicate he would pull over when the light changed,” the officer wrote.

As soon as the light changed, the rider started into the turn, but then pulled the bike back onto State Street and took off in the direction of I-15 where he entered the onramp heading south.

Meanwhile, the officer, who had recorded the license plate on the bike when it was stopped at the light, called the plate into emergency dispatch and obtained the registration information indicating the bike was owned by 23-year-old Jaxon Lee Scott, who had an address listed in Washington City.

The officer also confirmed it was Scott after obtaining a driver’s license photo that matched the suspect.

Officers in Washington City were then dispatched to Scott’s address, where they noticed a motorcycle parked at the apartment complex that matched the bike involved in the earlier incident, along with a helmet that was identified as the same one he was wearing.

When asked, Scott said he did see the officer, but that he rode off because “he was scared,” the report states.

Scott was arrested and taken to Purgatory Correctional Facility, where he was booked into jail on felony evading and a misdemeanor reckless driving charge.

Ed. Note: A new Utah law generally prohibits the release of arrest booking photos until after a conviction is obtained. 

This report is based on statements from court records, police or other responders and may not contain the full scope of findings. Persons arrested or charged are presumed innocent until found guilty in a court of law or as otherwise decided by a trier-of-fact.

Copyright St. George News, SaintGeorgeUtah.com LLC, 2021, all rights reserved.

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