Tooele chase suspect still extremely critical after smashing into 3 cars


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TOOELE — A 23-year-old man remained in extremely critical condition Tuesday, a day after police say he smashed into three other vehicles while fleeing from officers.

The Tooele County Sheriff's Office released the name of the man involved Tuesday. Marcello Anthony "Antonio" Aragon, of Tooele, was allegedly driving a stolen vehicle and fleeing from police when the six-minute chase ended in a violent collision near 400 N. Main.

The stolen Mitsubishi ran a red light and was broadsided by an oncoming SUV. The impact from the collision caused the stolen car to hit two other vehicles stopped at the light, including a Jeep containing a grandfather and two young children. Aragon was ejected from his vehicle.

The 51-year-old man in the Jeep, whose name was not released, remained hospitalized Tuesday with "signficant" injuries but was expected to survive, said Tooele County Sheriff Paul Wimmer. One of his grandsons, age 5, was also taken to the hospital with undisclosed injuries. Wimmer said Tuesday the boy was reportedly "doing fine," though he did not know whether he had been released from the hospital.

Wimmer said Tooele city police officers were familiar with Aragon and his criminal history.

According to Utah state court records, he pleaded guilty of theft by receiving stolen property, failing to stop at the command of a law enforcer, and possession of drug paraphernalia in 2012, in exchange for a charge of assault against a police officer being dismissed.

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In that incident, Tooele police spotted Aragon walking to a car that had been reported as stolen, with the keys in his hands, according to court documents. When the officer tried to place him under arrest, he ran. A fight with an officer ensued after he caught up with Aragon and tackled him. At one point the officer yelled that Aragon was biting him, according to court documents. While searching Aragon, detectives found the keys to another stolen vehicle, the charges state.

Aragon was originally sentenced to probation for that incident. But he later violated his probation in 2013 and his original sentence of up to five years at the Utah State Prison was imposed.

In 2010, he took a plea in abeyance to a charge of burglary while pleading guilty to theft and wrongful appropriation, charging documents state. Charges of assault on a police officer and burglary of a vehicle were dismissed.

As part of his probation for that case, a judge ordered Aragon to "abide by all gang clauses," have no contact with a particular relative, and obtain substance abuse treatment. After violating his probation on that case, he was sentenced to one year in jail.

After being sentenced, Aragon sent a letter to the judge in August of 2011 pleading for a reduced sentence so he could be present for the birth of his first child. Part of the letter stated, "Being in here has made me realize that it's time to grow up." Aragon further claimed in his letter that he had plans to leave Utah, further his education, and take on "responsibilities as a grown, civilized man" and not to cause the community any more problems.

"I would be truly grateful for a chance to rewrite my life," he wrote. "I repent my wrong doings and thank the lord for showing me that."

Aragon was also convicted of misdemeanor drug possession in 2010, purchase or consumption of alcohol in measurable amounts by a minor in 2012, and an amended charge of attempted failure to stop at the command of a law enforcer in 2014, according to court records.

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Pat Reavy

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