Estimated read time: 2-3 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
Samantha Hayes reporting Several violent crimes committed this week in Utah have all had something in common: Many of the suspects arrested were ex convicts.
We requested prison records to find out how long they were in prison, when they were released, and in some cases, the surprisingly short amount of time it took before committing another crime.
One month and three days after his release from prison, Ignacio Sanchez faces kidnapping charges for locking his ex-girlfriend in the truck of a car Tuesday.
It was three months and eleven days between release and re-offense for Charles Caldwell. He was caught August 29th in West Valley City. Officers suspect him of committing forgery and theft - that's what he was in prison for the first time.
And almost eight months after his release, Pedro Balli was allegedly caught with a weapon on August 8th in West Valley City.
Capt. Tom McLachlan, West Valley City Police Dept.: Yea, they're a problem."
Captain Tom Mclachlan says parolees know what to expect when they commit a crime; which creates a more dangerous situation for officers.
Capt. Tom McLachlan, West Valley City Police Dept.: "They are more willing to take more extreme measures to avoid apprehension. Which if they're in a vehicle and it's pursued it puts the public in danger and officers in danger."
That was certainly the case Tuesday, when Randy Velarde smashed two patrol cars when officers tried to pull him over.
Velarde was in the prison system for nearly 20 years. He was released in 2001.
That's four incidents in the last month. But Jim Hatch with the Utah Parole Board says about 3,500 parolees are monitored all the time, and the system is often effective.
Jim Hatch Utah Parole Board: "We feel parole works. We realize its not perfect and there are going to be those who make the choice to go out and not do what they're supposed to."
Department of Corrections says in these recent cases the parolees were not released early for over crowding, they all completed their time. Hatch believes the problem is a lack of job skills, education, and the people parolees associate with.
