Estimated read time: 2-3 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
WEST VALLEY CITY — A man is in custody after evading and attempting to ram police with his car Sunday morning, and a woman is also in custody after her vigilante effort interfered with officers' pursuit, police said.
Just after 1 a.m. Sunday, a West Valley Police officer spotted a stolen truck with a male driver at 4700 South and about 5600 West in West Valley, according to Lt. Jeff Conger of West Valley City Police. As the officer requested backup to initiate a traffic stop, the suspect began driving erratically and at an unsafe speed, Conger said. The vehicle drove into an apartment complex, at which point officers set up spike strips at what they believed to be a likely exit point, according to Conger.
As the suspect, later identified as Andre Cruz Martinez, 26, attempted to leave the complex, he noticed the spikes and swerved to avoid them, instead driving directly at officers, Conger said. Officers engaged in a pursuit that lasted a few more minutes, during which the suspect traveled up to 80 mph and again repeatedly attempted to ram officers before finally pulling over at 3200 West and 3500 South in West Valley, according to Conger. Martinez was taken into custody at this point on suspicion of attempted homicide on a peace officer, three counts of aggravated assault, fleeing in a vehicle and possession of a stolen vehicle, Conger said.
During the pursuit, police were also impeded by a third party who was not initially involved in the incident, Conger said. A female driver of a separate truck, later identified as Rachelle Fernandez, 28, attempted to strike the stolen vehicle in a vigilante effort as officers pursued it, according to Conger. Fernandez was also taken into custody, and charged with interfering with an arrest and failing to yield to an emergency vehicle, Conger said.
Martinez has a prior criminal history, according to Conger. Police do not suspect alcohol or impairment in either suspect. More information will be released as it becomes available.
