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WEST JORDAN — A federal fugitive who police say broke into a home Monday morning before leading officers on a chase probably wasn't expecting what he found inside the house.
"The door completely kicked in at me, and there was this crazy guy trying to break into my house. I screamed at him and told him to get out of my house and chased him out my door," said homeowner Tressa Coleman.
Coleman, who lives by herself, was eating her breakfast inside her West Jordan home about 8 a.m. when a man repeatedly knocked on her door and eventually kicked it open.
"I was thinking nothing but expletives and my adrenaline shot up about 5 million percent and I chased him out the door. I was shaking, I was in shock, really. Who expects someone to kick down your door when you're eating your oatmeal and drinking your tea?" she said.
About 10 minutes later, Coleman saw the man walking on the sidewalk again. This time, he got into a minivan parked down the street — which police would later confirm belonged to his wife — and drove off.
Coleman called 911 and gave dispatchers a description of the vehicle and the license plate number. Officers spotted the vehicle and a chase ensued on Bangerter Highway from 7800 South to 9000 South, then west where the man attempted to make a U-turn at the intersection of 7800 South and 4000 West, but instead hit a pole, said West Jordan Police Sgt. Drew Sanders. Speeds during the pursuit were not excessive, he said.
Who expects someone to kick down their door when you're eating your oatmeal and drinking your tea? It just doesn't happen, so it was kind of crazy.
–Tressa Coleman
Shilo Dennis Martinez, 38, was arrested at the scene. Martinez has an extensive state and federal criminal record. A warrant was issued for his arrest on June 11 for failing to comply with the conditions of his release from federal prison, including testing and treatment in a drug treatment facility.
On June 5, Martinez admitted to the court that he had been "smoking spice on a regular basis," according to court documents.
Martinez was previously sentenced to 63 months in federal prison for firearms violations and 15 months for attempting to escape. While serving his 63 months, he was sentenced to another 29 months in prison after being charged and convicted with possession of contraband.
In Utah's state court, where Martinez has entries dating back to 1992, he was most recently charged in Salt Lake Justice Court on June 1 with two counts of child abuse with injury.
Contributing: Andrew Adams
