K-9 helps in arrest of fugitive accused of ramming police cars


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WEST VALLEY CITY — Police arrested a man who they say rammed into police cars, hid on a roof and was bitten by a K-9 before being captured Saturday morning.

A chase started at 12:45 a.m. when police located a white Mercedes with a temporary sticker, which had possibly been stolen, parked in a 7-Eleven parking lot at 2321 S. Redwood Road. The car matched the description of a vehicle being driven by Jaime Hernandez, 37, who police had been pursuing for days on multiple warrants, according to Lt. Justin Hoyal with Unified Police.

When police saw a man matching Hernandez' description they pulled in behind the car and "activated their red and blue emergency lights," Hoyal said.

The driver then "put the vehicle in reverse, backed up and rammed our officers, pulled forward again, rammed another police car, pulled forward again, drove up over the sidewalk that is directly in front of the store, at which point in time struck the front end of a civilian vehicle," Hoyal said.


Obviously this was a very dangerous situation that this person was involved in. (We're) very fortunate that nobody was hurt other than the minor injuries to the suspect as a result of the dog bite.

–Lt. Justin Hoyal, UPD


A third police car then pulled up next to the Mercedes and the driver "rammed that as well," before fleeing eastbound, Hoyal said.

Officers from Unified, West Valley and Salt Lake police departments pursued the driver through West Valley and into Salt Lake, where the driver exited the car and fled on foot.

Police set up a containment area and K-9 units helped locate the man at 1499 S. 900 West "where he was spotted hiding on a roof," according to Hoyal. "He then jumped off the roof and tried to get away but was encountered by one of the police K-9s from Unified Police Department. He was non-compliant and was bit by the dog."

It was unclear where the dog bit Hernandez. He was taken to an area hospital with minor injuries from the bite. After his release he was booked into the Salt Lake County Jail on investigation of aggravated assault, receiving a stolen vehicle, fleeing or causing property damage, possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute, criminal mischief and other matters.

No officers were injured in the pursuit.

"Obviously this was a very dangerous situation that this person was involved in. Very fortunate that nobody was hurt other than the minor injuries to the suspect as a result of the dog bite," Hoyal said. "This could have been a much more devastating situation especially where he drove across the front sidewalk right in front of that business. There could have been anybody coming out — they could have been hit."

Contributing: Brianna Bodily

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