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SALT LAKE CITY — A Metro Gang Unit police vehicle was rammed Thursday night as officers attempted to arrest a wanted fugitive.
About 8:30 p.m., the gang unit was in the area of 1300 South and 900 West looking for a wanted fugitive. The fugitive, Anthony Wood, 33, was spotted talking to people in a Kia Soul, said Unified Police Sgt. Melody Cutler.
Members of the unit converged on Wood and arrested him without incident. But the occupants in the Kia drove off at a high rate of speed.
Several Metro Gang Unit detectives in unmarked vehicles spotted the vehicle near 1450 S. Utahna Ave. One detective turned on his emergency lights and attempted to pull the car over, Cutler said.
The driver, later identified as Tefua Bloomfield, 27, "accelerated toward the detective and intentionally rammed his police vehicle," said Cutler. No serious injuries were reported.
The Kia — which police discovered was stolen out of Salt Lake City — then fled on state Route 201 toward West Valley City, coming to stop near 2600 South and 3400 West, where three occupants got out and ran. Two of the passengers were arrested, but Bloomfield was able to escape despite an extensive search of the area using police K-9s and a helicopter, the sergeant said.
