Man leads Uintah County deputies on high-speed chase

Uintah County deputies say a North Dakota man led them on a high-speed chase and foot pursuit into the snowy hills.

About 1:30 a.m. Saturday, a Uintah County Sheriff's deputy saw a man speeding down the middle of both eastbound lanes on Main Street in Vernal with no headlights on, according to a news release. The deputy pulled the driver over into the parking lot of a 7-Eleven at 500 E. Main Street.

But when the deputy approached the man, who was the only one in the vehicle, he shifted into reverse and backed up towards the deputy, according to the release. The suspect then sped off eastbound on State Road 40 toward Naples, the release adds.

"The deputy notified central dispatch that he was in pursuit of the vehicle at speeds over 100 mph," the release reads.

The suspect eventually lost control of the vehicle and crashed into a snow bank near Honda Hills, west of Jensen. He got out and ran into the hills to hide from the pursing deputies, according to the release. With the aid of two police dogs, deputies eventually found him a long distance away, laying face up in the snow, the release adds. He was safely taken into custody.

A subsequent search of the suspect's vehicle revealed "items of illegal narcotics," according to the release.

The man was taken to Ashley Regional Medical Center before he was released and booked into Uintah County Jail under suspicion of evading, driving under the influence and drug possession, the release adds.

mmcfall@sltrib.com

Twitter: @mikeypanda