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TAYLORSVILLE — A man was arrested Monday after police say he took a car with a child still in the back and then fled from officers for over 90 minutes — at times driving the wrong way on the freeway.
Ivan Vazquez Ruelas, 28, was booked into the Salt Lake County Jail Monday night for investigation of child kidnapping, four counts of failing to stop for police, interfering with an arrest and theft.
Police say Ruelas was observed helping a woman shoplift from a Walmart store, 5469 S. Redwood Road. Officers attempted to stop Ruelas after he exited the store, but he continued running, then got into a vehicle and drove off, according to a police booking affidavit.
"While this was happening, the female was crying, advising that her 11-year-old daughter was inside the vehicle and (Ruelas) did not have authorization to have her," the affidavit states.
Ruelas sped away and several police cars followed.
"As officers were pursuing the vehicle, the vehicle was driving at a high rate of speed, cutting in and out of traffic, driving recklessly. (He) also drove into oncoming traffic on the highway at a high rate of speed, with the juvenile still in the vehicle," the arrest report says.
Police eventually lost site of Ruelas. But about an hour and 40 minutes after taking the girl, he dropped off the child in West Valley City with a mutual friend of his and the girl's mother, according to police. Officers were in the area monitoring his movement and attempted to stop Ruelas again after he dropped off the girl and got back into the car.
Ruelas fled from police again, leading them on a chase that ended in Pleasant Grove when one of his tires fell off the car. The affidavit does not say what caused the tire to come off. Ruelas then ran into a nearby backyard and attempted to hide, but was eventually taken into custody.
