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WEST VALLEY CITY — A man caught burglarizing a Millcreek home led police on a chase along I-80 and state Route 201 and rammed two police cars Saturday before being arrested in West Valley City.
Anthony M. Archuletta, 48, was in the process of burglarizing a home near 3900 South and 500 East when the homeowner saw him, began to follow him, and called police to report the criminal activity, Unified Police Lt. Rosie Rivera said. Unified police officers caught up to the suspect.
"Our officers attempted to stop the vehicle," Rivera said. "At some point the driver tried to run over one of our officers. They then started to pursue the vehicle (and) the suspect then rammed a couple of our police cars."
During the chase speeds reached 70 mph, though Rivera said they slowed on some of the side roads. She said officers were able to continue the chase due to light traffic conditions.
West Valley City police officers aided and were able to spike the vehicle's tires, which allowed officers to stop the suspect vehicle at 3100 S. Redwood Road. Rivera said the suspect then tried to flee by jumping over a fence, but was apprehended by officers waiting on the other side.
No one was injured in the incident.
"We actually were able to stop him (the suspect) from being a danger to everyone on the road as well," Rivera said. "Just the way he was driving — if he's willing to run into a police car, he's willing to hurt anyone."
She described the man as a 48-year-old Hispanic man who matched the description of a few other reported burglaries in the Millcreek area.
Rivera said the suspect was seen throwing items, believed to have been stolen in the burglary, from his truck as he fled from police. Officers were backtracking to try and locate those items and detectives were also expected to respond and investigate the tie between the suspect and the previously- reported burglaries.
In addition to burglary, Rivera said the suspect could face possible charges of aggravated assault of a police officer for trying to hit both the officers in their vehicles and the officer who was outside of his vehicle.
Though the incident ended without any physical harm to anyone, Rivera said it was complicated by the involvement of the homeowner, who continued to pursue the suspect even after police responded.
"Sometimes citizens want to get involved, but if we ask you to pull over, we'll handle it," she said. "It's just too dangerous. We don't know what the suspect is capable of doing at the time you're chasing them."
Contributing: Mike Radice
