West Valley City police arrested a suspect in an armed robbery and other "multiple violent felonies" Tuesday night, but not before a high-speed chase that resulted in multiple crashes and injuries.
Three people two adults and a child remained hospitalized Wednesday with non-life threatening injuries, and the male suspect and a female companion were in custody, also being treated for serious injuries, WVCPD spokesman Sam Johnson said.
The incident began to unfold about 7 p.m. Tuesday when Utah County Major Crimes detectives tipped WVCPD police on the location of the suspect whose name was not released as police continued to look for accomplices at an apartment complex in the area of 3500 South and 4000 West. Officers attempted to set up a containment perimeter, but the suspect fled the scene after intentionally crashing into a civilian vehicle and driving over spike strips police laid in his path.
The ensuing pursuit went eastbound on 3500 South with the suspect vehicle colliding with two other civilian vehicles. The suspect's car which turned out to be stolen lost a front tire but kept going, finally colliding with the car containing the two adults and child at Redwood Road.
Aided by a police dog, officers took the suspect and woman into custody. During a search of the scene, officers found a loaded handgun they believed had been thrown out of the suspect vehicle.
WVCPD Chief Lee Russo said detectives believe the male suspect, whose identity was not immediately released, was connected with a robbery last Friday of a West Valley City Kmart, during which shots were fired, but no one was hurt.
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