Provo residence gets the worst of post-drug bust chase, crash

An early Wednesday morning drug bust, high-speed chase and crash ended with no injuries to police or suspects, but the front porch of house in southwest Provo did not fare as well.

Provo police Sgt. Mathew Siufanua said members of the city's and Utah County's Special Enforcement units staked out a drug buy about 3:30 a.m. Wednesday at home near 1300 South and 500 West. Once they witnessed the alleged drug deal between a 34-year-old man and a customer, officers began to move in.

As the suspect and a male and a female accomplice drove away, officers attempted a traffic stop and a brief chase began.

Near 800 West and 1020 South, an officer attempted a "PIT maneuver" — a tactic involving intentional collision with a fleeing vehicle intended to force it to spin sideways and come to a stop. Instead, the suspects' car went out of control and struck a parked car.

Meanwhile, the police unit attempting the PIT maneuver also lost control and slammed into the masonry foundation of a residential front porch and into a wall. No one was injured.

The three suspects attempted to flee their ruined vehicle on foot, but were quickly apprehended by arriving officers, Siufanua said.

Meanwhile, an unspecified quantity of methamphetamine was recovered from the suspects' vehicle.

The 34-year-old man booked into the Utah County jail on suspicion of distributing methamphetamine, driving while under the influence of drugs, fleeing police and other charges; a 33-year-old man was booked for probation violation and on a federal arrest warrant; and a 25-year-old woman was booked on suspicion for distribution of methamphetamine and interfering with a police officer.

All three suspects were being held without bail as of Wednesday afternoon.

remims@sltrib.com

Twitter: @remims