Man wanted on misdemeanor warrant surrenders to SWAT team after hiding inside Hurricane residence

2021 file photo for illustrative purposes only of tactical officers on North Red Trail Lane, Washington city, Utah, March 16, 2021 | Photo by Rich Allen, St. George News

ST. GEORGE — A man wanted on a misdemeanor warrant is now facing felony charges after a SWAT team was called out to a residence in Hurricane where the suspect was hiding.

2021 file photo for illustrative purposes only of tactical officers on North Red Trail Lane, Washington city, Utah, March 16, 2021 | Photo by Rich Allen, St. George News

The call followed an attempted traffic stop in Leeds that escalated into a pursuit with Washington County Sheriff’s deputies, authorities say.

On Thursday, two deputies with the Washington County Sheriff’s Office were on patrol shortly before 6:30 p.m. when they recognized a suspect driving a black Dodge Dakota heading south on Main Street in Leeds.

According to charging documents filed with the court, the driver was 34-year-old Jorge Sanchez-Diaz, who was wanted on a warrant out of justice court.

Deputies also had information that Diaz was driving without a valid license and got behind the suspect’s pickup truck to initiate a traffic stop. The driver reportedly accelerated and sped off at a high rate of speed.

Police say the pickup continued south along Old Highway 91 toward Harrisburg as deputies activated the emergency lights and siren as they attempted to catch up to the vehicle. Diaz, however, continued at triple digits speeds, the report says.

As the pickup continued south, the suspect attempted to turn into the Harrisburg Lakeside Estates in Hurricane but took the turn at such a high rate of speed that he lost control of the pickup and nearly crashed – making it “obvious that the driver was evading our traffic stop,” the deputy noted.

Shortly thereafter, deputies located the abandoned Dakota in front of a residence on Overlook Lane in the Harrisburg Estates in Hurricane.

A witness spoke to deputies and said the truck appeared to belong to a man who was known only by the first name of “Jose,” and when deputies approached the residence where the abandoned Dakota was located, the homeowner, who was outside speaking to police, went to the front of the home and opened the door as she called out to check if anyone was inside.

That is when they heard a man yell out that he was inside and he “was sorry.”

Frightened by the man was inside, the deputy noted, the homeowner immediately left the residence, telling police she was terrified that someone was in her home without permission, and she also told authorities she did not feel safe returning to the residence.

Due to the circumstances and with a suspect hiding inside a home that was not his, the Washington County SWAT team was called in and responded to assist and the suspect was taken into custody by police shortly thereafter.

When deputies attempted to interview the suspect, Diaz said he did not wish to speak to police about the incident and he was transported to Purgatory Correctional Facility and booked into jail facing second-degree felony burglary and third-degree felony evading.

Diaz also faces one count each of reckless driving and possession of marijuana.

He was also booked into jail on a warrant issued out of justice court, along with a felony warrant issued out of 5th District court on a case filed in July of last year with multiple charges that include felony forgery and possession of a controlled substance – as well as several traffic violations.

Prosecutor Ryan Shaum also included a notation that in the accompanying charging document Diaz had a prior felony distribution case in California.

The suspect remains in custody on $15,335 bail.

Copyright St. George News, SaintGeorgeUtah.com LLC, 2022, all rights reserved.

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