Fleeing fugitive hits officer, police say


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WEST VALLEY CITY — A Unified Police officer was injured Wednesday night when a fleeing vehicle hit him on state Route 201 near Bangerter Highway. The injured officer was apparently attempting to stop the vehicle with tire spikes when he was hit.

West Valley City police spokeswoman Roxeanne Vainuku said it began with police officers watching the home of "an associate of a known fugitive" near 3100 South and 3200 West. When the man, identified by police as Tyrell Cox, left the house in a silver passenger car, the officers followed.

The 32-year-old had a history of running from police, Vianuku said, so the West Valley officers asked the Utah Highway Patrol to launch its helicopter and "get some eyes on the suspect from the sky."

It was about 8:30 p.m., near 3600 West and 3500 South, that Cox noticed he was being followed and took off, Vianuku said. The pursing officers followed him west to 5600 West then north to SR 201, where they terminated the chase.

The UHP helicopter continued to follow the suspect along SR 201 and an officer with Unified police set up spikes near the interchange at Bangerter Highway, Vianuku said.

"He was off to the side of the road, as is typical; officers will try to remain in a safe position and deploy spikes by throwing them out in front of the moving vehicle," West Valley Police Chief Lee Russo said. "In this case, the fleeing vehicle observed the officer, (and from) what we understand, drove to the officer, struck him and then continued on."

Vianuku said Cox's vehicle exited the freeway at 3200 West, and he made his way to 3600 West and 3500 South where West Valley officers performed a PIT maneuver to end the pursuit.

The officer who was hit sustained non-life threatening injuries and was expected to be released from the hospital sometime Thursday morning. His name was not released.

Cox was booked into the Salt Lake County Jail for investigation of attempted homicide on a police officer, fleeing from police, and reckless driving.

"He was on the run from adult probation and parole," Vianuku said. "He already had 13 felony warrants, so we're talking about a person who's in a whole lot of trouble."

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