WEST JORDAN — A woman apparently looking for a ride home was arrested early Tuesday after she was accused of stealing a car with a 2-year-old child still in the front seat.
The woman was arrested after police spiked the tires of the vehicle. The baby was returned to her mother unharmed.
The incident began just before 3 a.m. at a convenience store near 7000 South and 1300 West. A 20-year-old woman parked in front of an outdoor pay phone and got out to use it, said West Jordan Police Sgt. Drew Sanders.
The mother moved her daughter to the front seat so she could watch her better while she was on the phone. She left the car running to keep the baby warm. Even though the mother was just a couple of feet away from her vehicle, a woman jumped into the driver's seat and took off, Sanders said.
"There's no reasonable way (the alleged carjacker) could not have seen the baby," he said. "I just think she wanted the car. Despite the child, she just followed through with her decision to take that car."
Police spotted the vehicle near 9200 South and Redwood Road but she would not pull over. "She just kind of ignored us," Sanders said. Officers eventually used tire spikes to stop the vehicle.
Alicia Jaramillo, 32, was arrested for investigation of kidnapping, joyriding, failure to yield to officers and several other traffic offenses.
Investigators believe Jaramillo, whose driver's license was suspended, was headed home and her plan was likely to just get out of the vehicle and leave it once she got there.
— Pat Reavy