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HURRICANE, Washington County — A couple was arrested Monday after a police pursuit went through several southern Utah communities.
The incident was sparked by the report of a woman who was potentially in possession of counterfeit bills at the Family Dollar in Hurricane at about 4:29 p.m., according to the Washington County Sheriff’s Office.
The caller provided police with a description of the woman and the SUV she was driving, according to investigators. They said the vehicle had been listed as stolen out of the Salt Lake area by the Unified Police Department.
A vehicle matching the description was located by a LaVerkin police officer at a grocery store a short time later, according to the sheriff’s office. It reported the driver fled north on state Route 17 toward Toquerville at speeds of more than 90 mph after the officer attempted to initiate a traffic stop.
The officer terminated the pursuit, but the vehicle was spotted about 10 minutes later returning to LaVerkin. Another short pursuit, which was terminated near Virgin, ensued after the officer attempted to stop the vehicle a second time.
“The off-duty police chief of Zion Canyon Police Department observed the suspect vehicle parked near the LDS church in the town of Virgin and occupant flee the area, on foot,” a statement from the sheriff’s office reads.
The off-duty police chief of Zion Canyon Police Department observed the suspect vehicle park near the LDS church in the town of Virgin and occupant flee the area, on foot.
–Washington County Sheriff's Office Statement
Officers from multiple agencies responded to the area and located Jordan Lucia hiding in a vehicle on a citizen’s property, according to the sheriff’s office. They said he was taken into custody without further incident.
Lucia was arrested on suspicion of two counts of evading by vehicle, possession of a stolen vehicle, possession of forged identification, and trespassing, in addition to an outstanding warrant issued by the U.S. Marshal's Office.
A woman matching the description provided in the initial report was located riding in the passenger seat of a pickup truck a short time later in LaVerkin, according to investigators. They said a deputy with the Washington County Sheriff’s Office stopped the vehicle and took Jamie Pullman, who is Lucia’s girlfriend, into custody.
Pullman was arrested on suspicion of possession of counterfeit currency, two counts of forged identification and drug charges stemming from an earlier investigation in Washington County.
Pullman and Lucia were previously identified as being involved with a robbery that took place in Salt Lake City on Feb. 22. A group allegedly forced entry into a home, assaulted the woman living there and stole furniture items.
