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SALT LAKE CITY — Two men were arrested Sunday night and early Monday following two unrelated police chases in Salt Lake County. One ended when the suspect's car rolled, the other when a police dog bit the suspect.
Around 1 a.m., a West Valley police officer pulled over a vehicle for minor traffic violations near 3700 S. 4000 West. The officer also thought the vehicle matched the description of a stolen car, said West Valley Police Sgt. Mike Powell.
The driver drove off, leading officers on a chase instead. He drove through several wooden fences near 3100 South and 4000 West, and attempted to hit a police officer while trying to get back to the road, police say.
At 3055 S. 3559 West, the officer forced the man's vehicle to spin out and stop. The driver, however, got out of his car and ran.
- 2009 - Sentenced to up to five years at the Utah State Prison on a felony theft conviction.
- 2008 - Sentenced to up to five years at the state prison for convictions on conspiracy and obstruction of justice.
- 2007 - Convicted of felony joyriding.
Officers used a police dog to track him down.
Sgt. Jeff Conger said, "Eventually we did find him hiding in a recycling bin. He didn't comply with orders and one of the dogs did bite him to (force him to) come out of the bin."
Police arrested Dan Wettstein, 29, and booked him into the Salt Lake County Jail for fleeing from police, criminal mischief, and leaving the scene of an accident. Police say he could also face charges of aggravated assault for trying to hit a police officer with the car.
Investigators suspect the 2013 Subaru Wettstein was driving may have been stolen from a car dealer's lot.
Wettstein has a history of theft and is currently on parole.
Chase ends in rollover
A separate high-speed chase ended in downtown Salt Lake City after the vehicle fleeing from police rolled.
The chase began around 11:30 p.m. Sunday in Midvale after an officer recognized a wanted felon leaving a hotel with his wife. The two were celebrating her birthday.
The officer pulled over the car as it tried to enter I-15 at 7200 South. When the officer approached the vehicle's window, the driver gave him a fake name and began to argue.
During the confrontation, the officer pulled his weapon and demanded the man get out of the car. Instead, he sped away and led the officer on a chase onto I-215.
Lt. Steve Shreeve of the Salt Lake City Police Department said, "The officer continued to trail quite a ways behind, and (the suspect) still continued to drive erratically, using all four lanes of traffic on the freeway."
Kelly Bender has an extensive criminal history, according to Utah court records. He was most recently charged in October with felony theft and misdemeanor trespassing. In July, he was charged with felony forgery.
Officers picked up the chase at 600 North on I-15. It then entered downtown. At several points the driver's wife tried to get out of the vehicle but he prevented her from doing so.
When the vehicles approached North Temple and Main Street officers say the suspect's driving was so erratic that it was endangering others, so they used a pit maneuver to try to stop the vehicle. In the process, it rolled.
Police arrested Kelly Bender, 42. His wife was taken to LDS Hospital with a minor neck injury.
Bender was arrested on 11 charges, including fleeing from an officer and DUI. He is now being held at the Salt Lake County Jail.
Contributing: Randall Jeppesen
