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Sandra Yi ReportingState Police arrested a man who jumped into the back of a moving pickup truck heading on to the freeway. Troopers say the man tried to get into several people's cars last night before he jumped on the back of that pickup. They believe he just wanted a ride.
The driver of the truck called 9-1-1 when he saw the man climb in. The situation was so baffling, the caller seemed stunned.
Dispatcher: "You don't know who it is, do you?"
Caller: "I have no idea. I have no idea."
He told dispatchers he was waiting to get on I-15 at 4500 South when a man jumped into the cab of his pickup truck.
Caller: "Now he's chilling in the back of my truck. He was standing up for a minute."
The driver continued on the freeway at 40 miles an hour. Troopers were on their way.
Caller: "He's still back there. I'm kind of driving slow. I don't want him to jump out or anything."
The driver merged onto I-80. Things took a turn when troopers showed up.
Caller: "Uh oh, he's jumping out. Yeah, he just jumped out and he's running."
Troopers caught up to the man, identified as Daniel Cook. He lay on the ground, but then became violent.
Sgt. Steven Manful, Utah Highway Patrol: "When the second trooper arrived on scene and went to handcuff him, he jumped up, assaulted the one trooper, kicking him in the face, and kicking the other trooper."
Neither trooper was seriously hurt. They shot Cook with a tazer several times. Investigators say he may have psychological problems. A call to 9-1-1 earlier that night indicates he may have tried the same stunt before.
First Caller: "I just wanted to get away because he looks kind of suspicious, so I went to the left of him and he ran into the side of my car. He went for the passenger door to try to get in."
Investigators say Cook was released from the Salt Lake County Jail just two hours before he was re-arrested. He faces several charges, including, assault on a peace officer.
