Stolen Lexus leads chase in downtown Salt Lake City

The driver of a stolen luxury sports car gave police the slip Tuesday afternoon — for a while.

Salt Lake City police saw the stolen Lexus IS F downtown and chased it, but the driver eventually eluded them, driving onto Interstate 15 and into West Valley City, said police Detective Dennis McGowan.

A male who was allegedly a passenger in the Lexus got out near 500 S. 700 East, McGowan said. Police have detained him.

Officers later found the suspect as he was parking the Lexus in the Taylorsville Reams parking lot at 4700 S. 2700 West, according to a release from South Salt Lake police. He ran from police on foot and tried to carjack another vehicle before he was taken into custody, the release adds.

South Salt Lake police spokesman Gary Keller confirmed the car was the one stolen from a dealership at 2865 S. State on Saturday. The vehicle has no plates but a license plate holder reads "I practically stole this from C.J. Prestman."

Around midday Saturday, a man in his 20s asked to take the car on a test drive, said Sgt. Matt Budd, before telling a salesperson, "Hey, get out of the car." At that time the salesperson witnessed a gun by the suspect's leg, although it was never pointed at the salesperson, Budd said.

mmcfall@sltrib.com

Twitter: @mikeypanda