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TAYLORSVILLE — A man fleeing police at very high speed rolled his vehicle several times. He was not injured, and only surrendered after a police dog bit him.
Unified Police officers suspect that alcohol had something to do with why Eduardo Lopez, 28, tried to flee.
Officers tried to pull over Lopez for a traffic violation in the area of 5600 South and Bangerter Highway around 1:15 a.m. Lopez fled east, leading officers on a chase that reached speeds of 110 mph on city streets. Eventually the chase was called off because of the dangerous speeds.
A short time later, 27 blocks away at Redwood Road, witnesses saw the driver lose control and roll the vehicle six or seven times.
Lt. Steve Shreeve of the Unified Police Department said, "(It) knocked down several trees, signs, destroyed a stone planter they use for landscaping here."
When the vehicle came to a stop, Lopez jumped out and ran.
"At that speed and the number of times the vehicle rolled, according to eyewitnesses, it's very surprising he was not seriously injured," Shreeve said.
Police dogs tracked him southeast of a nearby Walmart and found him hiding. When Lopez tried to run, one of the dogs attacked him and bit him.
"He was taken by ambulance to Intermountain Medical Center in good condition. The only visible injury was the dog bite," Shreeve said.
When Lopez is released from the hospital he will be booked into the Salt Lake County Jail for felony fleeing and resisting arrest. Since police suspect that alcohol was involved, it's possible he will be booked for DUI as well.
Utah court records show Lopez was found guilty and fined a year ago for driving without ever obtaining a license.
