KEARNS — A Magna man who police say has a history of fleeing from officers in stolen cars was arrested again on Monday.
Alex Julius Rasmussen, 23, was booked into the Salt Lake County Jail for investigation of being in a stolen vehicle, failing to stop at the command of police, obstructing justice and having burglary tools.
The incident began while a Unified police officer was on patrol near 4300 West and 5400 South and spotted Rasmussen, who then attempted to speed away from the officer, according to a police affidavit. He then drove recklessly while fleeing, police say.
“The suspect vehicle swerves into oncoming lanes, traveling east in the westbound lanes,” the affidavit states.
Rasmussen then pulled into the parking lot of Vasa Gym, 4015 W. 5400 South, jumped out of the car and ran, according to the affidavit. The officer ran after him and took him into custody moments later.
Detectives found “several dozen ignition keys to several vehicle manufacturers” inside a backpack he was carrying, the affidavit states.
The car Rasmussen was driving was determined to be stolen out of Spanish Fork
“Inside the vehicle are several other ignition keys and burglary tools. It is also determined that a ‘shaved’ ignition key was used to start the vehicle, located in the ignition at the time of occurrence,” police wrote in the report.
Rasmussen is currently charged in two other similar cases.
On Jan. 9, he was charged in 3rd District Court with theft by receiving stolen property, failing to stop at the command of police, and DUI.
In that case, West Valley police in October attempted to stop Rasmussen, who was driving a stolen car, by flattening the fleeing vehicle’s tires with spike strips, according to charging documents.
On Jan 22, Rasmussen was charged in another incident in December with theft by receiving stolen property, failing to stop at the command of police, unlawful acquisition of a bank card as well as several other crimes, according to court documents,
In that case, Rasmussen allegedly led West Valley police on a pursuit that ended with officers performing a PIT maneuver to stop his vehicle, followed by a police K-9 being used to take Rasmussen into custody. Shaved keys and lock picking kits were found inside the car he was driving, the charges state.
His next court hearing on the prior two cases is scheduled for June 1.