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AMERICAN FORK — A Wyoming man traveling to California was arrested in Utah on Wednesday after police say he stole a car and ran onto I-15, taking off his pants to show he was not armed.
The odd series of events started when Antoine Screve, 29, of Wilson, Wyoming, made multiple 911 calls stating that he needed a tow truck for his vehicle. Despite being told not to use 911 to call a tow truck, he continued to do so, according to a police booking affidavit.
American Fork police officers responded to Screve's location to do what they could, but noted in the affidavit they "were neither auto mechanics nor tow-truck drivers" and were unable to assist further. They told Screve, however, that he could face charges if he continued to call 911.
"Within minutes of officers leaving the area, Screve called 911 again," according to the affidavit. "While on the phone with police, officers who had arrived in the area observed Screve walking in the middle of the road yelling and waving his arms around trying to get vehicles to stop."
A vehicle stopped for Screve. He got in and "told the driver to drive like their 'lives depended on it,'" the affidavit states.
Screve allegedly told the man to drive faster and go to the police department. But when the driver tried to get directions to the police station on his phone, Screve grabbed it and threw the phone out the window, according to the affidavit.
"Officers followed the vehicle and activated their emergency equipment to stop the vehicle. Screve told the driver not to stop, but the driver refused to comply and pulled over for law enforcement," the affidavit says.
When the car stopped, Screve got out and ran onto I-15, "running in northbound and southbound traffic, nearly getting hit by several vehicles, and impeding the morning commuter traffic," according to police.
While attempting to take him into custody, Screve yelled, "I'm unarmed" and "dropped his pants and underclothing down to his ankles." After he was taken into custody, Screve became combative with officers and used his handcuffs to scratch the windows of the patrol car he was placed in, the affidavit says.
Screve, who has no prior criminal history, was arrested and charged on Monday in 4th District Court with 10 crimes, including aggravated robbery, a first-degree felony; robbery, a second-degree felony; and damaging a jail, a third-degree felony.
The charging documents indicate that both a police officer and the driver of the car Screve jumped into both believed he was having a mental health crisis.
On Monday, Screve's attorney filed a motion with the court to allow reasonable force to be used to get his client from the Utah County Jail to his first court hearing.
"Mr. Screve is suffering from a mental break with intense paranoia and is unwilling to leave his cell to make a phone call to his family or to meet with his attorney," the motion states.
The defense wants Screve to be in court so a mental health evaluation can be ordered and he can be taken to a local hospital.
