WEST VALLEY CITY — Two men who led West Valley police on a short chase before ramming two patrols cars while trying to get away were captured over the weekend.
Just before midnight Saturday, officers spotted a stolen vehicle that was also wanted for in connection with a hit-and-run accident the week before, said West Valley police Capt. Tom McLachlan.
Officers attempted to pull the vehicle over near 4500 South and 4000 West but it took off. The car drove to a dead-end street near 2700 West and 4000 South, McLachlan said.
When the driver realized he was pinned, he drove at officers, hitting two patrol cars almost head-on, he said. A few blocks away, another officer used his vehicle to perform a PIT maneuver on the fleeing car, bumping it so that would spin out.
Once the car was stopped, the driver and passenger refused to get out, McLachlan said. An officer used a baton to break the driver's side window, and then was forced to hit the driver with it when the suspect tried to drive off again. Officers eventually dragged the driver out of the vehicle and forcefully removed the passenger as well, McLachlan said.
The driver, who also had warrants out for his arrest for car theft, was taken to a local hospital with undisclosed, non-life threatening injuries and admitted. The other was taken to the Salt Lake County Jail.