Woman with wanted fugitive tries to escape by hitting police vehicles

WEST VALLEY CITY — A woman accused of hitting two vehicles from the U.S. Marshals Service while trying to escape was arrested Wednesday after a third law enforcement vehicle rammed her vehicle to get her to stop.

Melissa Lynn Trotter, 24, was booked into the Salt Lake County Jail for investigation of three counts of aggravated assault, criminal mischief and failing to stop at the command of police

The Marshals' Violent Fugitive Apprehension Strike Team was looking for Charles Petersen in West Valley on Wednesday when they spotted a Nissan being driven by Petersen, according to a police booking affidavit. The vehicle pulled into a pharmacy near 3150 W. 3500 South and Petersen went inside.

"Investigators set up to take Charles into custody upon exiting the CVS. During that process, the passenger of the Nissan Cube exited the passenger side and got into the driver's seat of the vehicle. Investigators observed Charles walking back and forth inside of the store. At one point, the driver, who was later identified as Melissa Trotter, exited the parking area and drove towards the front doors, but then bypassed them and parked 2-3 stalls away from the original parking area," the affidavit states.

When Petersen exited the store and got into the passenger seat of the Nissan, "numerous unmarked police vehicles converged on the Nissan Cube with red and blue lights activated," according to the affidavit.

That's when police say Trotter put the Nissan in reverse and hit a Marshals' vehicle. She then drove forward and hit the pharmacy building, "and then continued driving on the pedestrian walkway, hitting another unmarked U.S. Marshal vehicle," the affidavit states. "After hitting the second vehicle, the Nissan attempted to leave the parking area when another U.S. Marshal hit the Nissan, disabling it."

Both occupants were taken into custody. The affidavit does not say why Petersen was wanted.

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