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SALT LAKE CITY — A man with a history of fleeing from police was arrested after police say they caught him in a vehicle that has been previously used to flee from officers.
Alexis Garcia-Flores, 21, was booked into the Salt Lake County Jail for investigation of failing to respond to an officer's signal to stop.
About 8:45 p.m. Thursday, Salt Lake gang detectives spotted an SUV near 1400 W. Dale Ave. that was wanted in connection with a recent drive-by shooting. Police also identified Garcia-Flores as the driver.
"Alexis has a revoked license so a traffic stop was attempted, but Alexis immediately fled at a high rate of speed and drove recklessly in a residential neighborhood," according to a police booking affidavit.
Police used tire spikes on the SUV, which brought the vehicle to a stop about a mile later, the affidavit states. Because officers feared Garcia-Flores might be armed, the road was "locked down" and a short standoff ensued. He eventually surrendered without further incident.
Detectives believe the SUV Garcia-Flores was driving was used in a drive-by shooting on July 9 near 1200 S. Glendale Drive.
"Officers found a car with multiple bullet holes and shell casings in the road. There were no injuries reported," police said.
Investigators also noted that the SUV "has been documented as fleeing from law enforcement in Salt Lake County six times in the past nine months."
Likewise, Garcia-Flores, who was not arrested in connection with the drive-by shooting, "has a lengthy history of fleeing," the affidavit states.
He was charged with fleeing and reckless driving on May 6. In that case, Garcia-Flores is accused of speeding away from West Valley police. Prosecutors noted in charging documents that the SUV he was driving in that incident was also involved in fleeing from police on Oct. 20, March 12 and April 12. Garcia-Flores' next court hearing in that case was scheduled for Aug. 12.
In a separate case, he pleaded guilty in 2019 to failing to stop for police and was sentenced to 45 days in jail, court records state.
