Police: Armed car theft, pursuit, ends in arrest

Police: Armed car theft, pursuit, ends in arrest

(Salt Lake County Bookings)


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SALT LAKE CITY – A man who allegedly stole a vehicle from a car dealership Saturday and led police on a vehicle pursuit Tuesday was arrested.

Friday, Paul Ynez Morris, 24, went to CJ Prestman Auto, 2865 S. State, and asked to test drive a vehicle, said South Salt Lake police detective Gary Keller. After retrieving the keys, the salesman returned and Morris pointed a gun at his head, Keller said.

Morris took the vehicle as well as the salesperson’s wallet and cellphone, a jail document said.

The vehicle was reported stolen, and had been sighted twice since the 7th. The second sighting was on Tuesday when a Salt Lake City police officer spotted it around State Street and Major Street. Just before 2:45 p.m., the officer initiated a traffic stop, but the driver did not stop. Police followed the car along State Street to 1300 South before it turned east and the officer lost sight at 1100 South, police said.

The officer regained sight of the vehicle on 1300 South and State Street, following it until it got on I-15 at 500 South. The vehicle got off the freeway at 3300 South before fleeing from officers again.

Morris was identified as the driver of that vehicle during the pursuit, jail documents said.

Around 9 p.m. Tuesday, following up on suspect information, police saw Morris park in a lot around 4700 South and 2700 West and walk away from the vehicle. Police moved in and Morris fled on foot, but officers apprehended him, according to the document.

South Salt Lake police took Morris into custody, and he was later positively identified by the salesperson from the car dealership, the jail document said.

Morris was booked on suspicion of aggravated assault, aggravated robbery, fleeing, two counts of assault and two counts of witness tampering.

In July 2013, Morris pled guilty to aggravated assault, a third-degree felony, retaliation against a witness and assault, both Class A misdemeanors, according to Utah state court documents. Morris was beating his wife when a roommate intervened and pulled him off of her. Morris then attacked the roommate. After he left, Morris continuously texted and called saying he was going to kill both his wife and the roommate, according to court documents.

He was sentenced to probation, but then served 20 days in jail for violating his probation. On Feb. 10, an arrest warrant was issued for Morris for violating his probation again, according to court records. In 2011 he was convicted of violating a protective order.

Contributing: Pat Reavy

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