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MIDVALE — A violent home invasion in Midvale led to a police chase Wednesday evening, and two of three people suspected to be involved remain on the loose, police said.
Two men and a woman broke into a home near 800 W. Lennox St. (7870 South) around 6 p.m., according to Unified Police Lt Lex Bell. Multiple officers responding to the scene were reportedly almost hit by a fleeing Jeep Cherokee.
"As they pulled up and were getting out of their vehicles, the suspect vehicle backed out of the driveway quickly (and) nearly hit both officers," Bell said. "They both were forced to jump into their cars in order to avoid being hit."
The Cherokee eventually crashed into a cement barrier designed to block vehicle access to a pedestrian walking path near 200 East and 7700 South, and one man who was stuck in the vehicle was arrested, Bell said. He was identified as 35-year-old Ernest Wilkinson, who is reportedly out of prison on parole. He was not injured in the crash.
Police searched the surrounding area, but two others who were in the crash escaped arrest. The search was called off around 8:30 p.m.
Police originally responded to the home when a woman called them saying people were trying to break into her house, Bell said. She and a man who also lives at the home reportedly went into a bedroom and locked the door for protection.
However, Wilkinson and the two others allegedly broke the glass on the front door of the home, kicked in the bedroom door and began beating the man with a bat, all while the woman was still on the phone with police.
The beating victim, believed to be the homeowner, was hurt but in fair condition Wednesday night. He was expected to recover.
Bell said the woman and two men involved know those who lived in the home, though he added that an exact motive for the alleged home invasion is unknown.
"Obviously they gave us a name of one of the involved parties, so there's obviously some kind of a background and a backstory to this that we'll try to figure out," he said.
The man who evaded arrest is described as Hispanic or Native American, tall and think with a long ponytail and wearing a white T-shirt and baggy clothing. The woman he was with is reportedly white with brown hair.
Wilkinson, of West Valley City, has a criminal history involving drug distribution, the lieutenant added. He was booked into the Salt Lake County Jail for investigation of aggravated burglary, aggravated assault and other offenses related to fleeing from police, Bell said.
Police also believe the Jeep Cherokee that Wilkinson and the two others were using was a stolen vehicle.
Contributing: Brianna Bodily, Andrew Adams, Sam Penrod
