Unified Police K-9 chases down fleeing car theft suspect

Steal a car, crash a car, run away? You just made the night for a Unified Police Department canine.

UPD Lt. Justin Hoyal said that's how things went down in Taylorsville early Thursday morning when a suspect smashed a black BMW sedan into a utility pole near 4900 South and 1100 West just before 1 a.m.

The driver had fled the crashed vehicle by the time UPD officers, called to the scene by alarmed residents, arrived on the scene.

Officers soon discovered that both the license plate and vehicle had been reported as stolen. Then, they reportedly spotted footprints leading away from the car, preserved by the snow. Officers then saw the suspect a short distance away and a foot chase ensued.

Hopping residential fences and darting through yards, the suspect initially eluded his human pursuers, but not a police dog. Hoyal said the K-9 found the suspect near 1600 W. 4800 South and put the bite on him until officers were able to take him into custody.

The 31-year-old suspect was treated for minor, bite-related injuries to his leg and then booked into the Salt Lake County jail on suspicion of auto theft and fleeing the scene of an accident. He also had active felony arrest warrants on charges ranging from theft, possession of controlled substances, fraud and identity theft.

remims@sltrib.com

Twitter: @remims