- Jessica Haugan, 40, faces charges for allegedly assaulting a police officer and more.
- On Aug. 29, she is accused of leading Taylorsville police on a high-speed chase.
- Haugan evaded arrest but left behind identifying items and drug paraphernalia.
TAYLORSVILLE — A Utah woman is facing criminal charges accusing her of hitting several cars, including a police vehicle, and leading officers on an extended chase.
Jessica Hazel Haugan, 40, was charged Tuesday in 3rd District Court with assault on a police officer, a second-degree felony; plus three counts of failing to stop for police, a third-degree felony. She was also charged with running from police, a class A misdemeanor; reckless driving, causing an accident with property damage and possession of drug paraphernalia, class B misdemeanors; and speeding, an infraction.
On Aug. 29, while keeping surveillance on a residence where drugs were suspected of being distributed, Taylorsville police watched Haugan get into a car and speed off, according to charging documents. An officer attempted to pull her over near 5100 South and 2700 West for allegedly going 15 mph over the speed limit.
But Haugan did not stop and "drove into oncoming traffic and through a red light in the area of 4700 S. 2700 West," the charges state.
The officer followed Haugan into a parking lot near 4455 S. 2700 West, "and again attempted a stop of the vehicle. Rather than complying with the stop, Haugan rammed her vehicle" into the officer's patrol car and drove off, the charges allege.
A second officer then attempted to pull Haugan over as she sped away. She "crashed into multiple civilian vehicles near the intersection at 4700 S. 2700 West, causing damage to both the other vehicles and her own vehicle," according to the charges. No serious injuries were reported.
But she continued driving until she got to about 4700 South and 2900 West, where she got out of her car and ran, police say,
"Haugan evaded apprehension, but her abandoned vehicle was searched prior to impound, revealing a Utah identification card and several other items that identified Haugan as the driver. Officers also found drug paraphernalia inside the vehicle," the charges state.
Prosecutors are seeking a warrant for her arrest. According to court records, Haugan also has an outstanding earlier warrant for her arrest for failing to comply with the terms of her probation in a drug-related conviction from earlier this year.
