JCAT finally nabs elusive fugitive in West Jordan

An ex-con with multiple arrest warrants and a habit of eluding law enforcement was finally brought to justice late Thursday night by officers of the multi-law enforcement agency Joint Criminal Apprehension Team.

JCAT Commander Jim Phelps said 25-year-old fugitive Marcus Alexander Garcia initially was sighted in a vehicle near 7000 South and Redwood Road in West Jordan about 9 p.m. Thursday.

"Our officers tried to stop him, but he drove away, hitting one of our vehicles in the process. There was a short chase, but we terminated it because it became to risky [to public safety]," Phelps said Friday. "One of our undercover vehicles then spotted him and followed, but then lost sight of him."

JCAT officers, assisted by Unified and West Jordan police, set up a containment area near the Jordan Landing retail complex. About 45 minutes later, roughly 11 p.m., Garcia was found hiding in the back seat of a parked car that had been left unlocked.

Phelps said Garcia surrendered without further incident. Garcia was booked into Salt Lake County Jail, where he remained Friday in lieu of $57,000 bail on suspicion of numerous felony and misdemeanor counts ranging from aggravated assault, theft and drug possession to traffic violations.

Garcia's criminal record includes convictions and guilty pleas related to burglary, simple assault and criminal mischief and attempted robbery between 2005 and 2008.

Phelps said arrest warrants related to aggravated assault, theft and third-degree felony joyriding were active at the time of Garcia's arrest. He had reportedly eluded police on at least two previous occasions prior to Thursday night.

remims@sltrib.com

Twitter: @remims