ST. GEORGE — A high-speed chase that began when law enforcement observed a vehicle traveling 110 miles per hour in Sevier County ended in Beaver County when officers spiked the tires of the evading vehicle.
Four people were taken into custody by the Utah Highway Patrol and transported to Sevier County Corrections in Richfield pending their court dates.
At approximately 1:10 p.m. Tuesday, a trooper initiated his lights after spotting the vehicle traveling westbound at a high rate of speed near mile marker 25 on Interstate 70, according to the probable cause statement filed in 6th District Court.
“Vehicle exited off ramp westbound at 23,” the court document states. “Vehicle was making erratic movements and brake tapping. Vehicle made a U-turn after going under the freeway underpass and got back onto the freeway with no intention of stopping. A pursuit was initiated at this time.”
The suspects reportedly exited I-70 again at Exit 17 and re-entered the freeway going eastbound, then made a U-turn in the median of the freeway before going westbound again. They continued southbound on I-15 with speeds reaching 120 miles per hour.
“The vehicle was spiked at mile marker 125 (on I-15) and came to a stop at mile marker 124,” the arresting officer wrote. “Four occupants were taken into custody. Items found in the car included an open container of alcohol, marijuana, Xctasy pills, and financial cards that did not belong to any of the occupants.”
The suspects – Anthony Joseph Rivera, 26; Alex Jonathan Otero, 33; and Emmanuel Pena, 32 – were booked into jail on one count each of failure to stop at the command of an officer, distribution of a controlled substance, possession of marijuana, open container in vehicle and two counts of unlawful possession of a financial card without consent.
Meghan Bridget Moore, 20, was booked into jail on one count each of reckless driving, driving on a revoked license, failure to stop at the command of an officer, distribution of a controlled substance, possession of marijuana, open container in vehicle and two counts of unlawful possession of a financial card without consent.
In his statement, the judge supported continued detention. Utah Highway Patrol officers noted that the pending charges were felonies and the suspects could flee if released due to “occupants mentioned having fled from law enforcement in other states.”
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.
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