SANDY — A man who police say kidnapped a woman, rammed a patrol car while trying to escape and led officers on a pursuit with speeds over 100 mph now faces charges.
Floyd Raymond Mares, 55, who is believed to be homeless, was charged in 3rd District Court with kidnapping, assault on an officer and being in possession of a stolen car, all second-degree felonies; failing to stop for police and retaliating against a witness, both third-degree felonies; and two counts of drug possession, a class A misdemeanor.
On Feb. 10, Mares picked up his former girlfriend for lunch near 8400 S. Jordan Parkway, according to charging documents. The woman would later tell police that the car was stolen, that Mares had put a different license plate on it and that he was living out of the vehicle, the charges state.
While in the car, the two got into an argument and Mares began to drive away, swerving the car at poles, “saying he would ram the vehicle into poles and walls,” according to the charges. Whenever the woman would try to get out, Mares would “reaccelerate to keep her inside the car.”
The two continued to drive around the valley for hours until Mares finally dropped her off at her home. But he told her that if she called police he would attempt “suicide by cop,” the charges state.
The woman called police. While an officer was at her home talking to her, Mares called. Police told the woman to have Mares come to her house, the charges state. When Mares arrived, police told him to get out of his car. Instead, Mares put his car in reverse, hit a police car parked behind him and took off, according to the charges.
The ensuing police chase went onto state Route 201.
“Pursuing officers estimated their speed near 100 mph,” the charges state.
Mares went from I-80 into Salt Lake City and crashed near Redwood Road and Indiana Avenue where he attempted to run from his car. He was arrested a short time later. He told detectives he knew the car was stolen and fled from officers because he didn't want to be arrested, according to the charges. Mares also said he “had been using methamphetamine all day and was high at the time he ran from the police officers,” charging documents state.
At some point on Feb. 11 before he was arrested, Mares left several voicemails on the woman's cellphone. The messages included statements such as “I’m pulled over. They got me. Thanks a lot,” and “They just passed your house and lit me up. Thanks a lot. Watch what I do now. ... Wow, all the cops are here. I got surrounded,” and also threatening to find the woman once he gets out of jail, the charges state.
On Jan. 24, Mares was charged with fleeing from police in another case that happened on Jan. 1, according to court records,
In 2013, Mares was convicted on an amended charge of aggravated assault, a third-degree felony, during a robbery at a Walmart. In 1999 he was convicted of aggravated robbery and sentenced to five years to life in the Utah State Prison.