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SALT LAKE CITY — A Millcreek man was arrested Tuesday after police say he was driving at least 120 mph and wouldn't pull over for law enforcement.
Paul Hansen Utz, 57, was booked into the Salt Lake County Jail for investigation of failing to stop at the command of police, reckless driving, speeding and following too close.
About 6:30 p.m. a Porsche Cayenne passed a Utah Highway Patrol trooper on I-80 near 2500 West going at least 120 mph in a 70 mph zone, according to the UHP.
“While I was traveling at 120 mph, the vehicle was pulling away from me which based on my training and experience indicated that the vehicle was traveling at even a faster speed than 120 mph,” the trooper wrote in a police affidavit. “The vehicle was driving in a reckless manner during which it kept on cutting other vehicles off, following too close, not signaling two seconds prior to a lane change.”
The trooper followed Utz from about 3000 West to 8000 West when he finally pulled over, the affidavit states.
“Utz denied noticing my emergency lights nor hearing the emergency chirping police siren during the lengthy chase. However multiple other motorists were noticing my police lights and siren by yielding out of my way so that I can continue chasing Utz’s vehicle,” the affidavit says.
A passenger in Utz’s car later told police they did see the flashing red-and-blue lights but “he did not think ‘they’ were cops,” according to the affidavit.
The UHP says it has seen a dramatic increase in 2020 in the number of vehicles being pulled over going in excess of 100 mph.
