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CEDAR CITY — Two people accused of driving a stolen Lamborghini from Las Vegas were arrested in southern Utah Saturday after a standoff forced the temporary closure of I-15 in both directions.
Utah Highway Patrol troopers received a report of a stolen vehicle from a Las Vegas dealership. The dealer was providing updated locations of the vehicle, using technology inside the vehicle to track it.
A trooper spotted the Lamborghini just south of Cedar City but it accelerated when the trooper tried to pull it over and a chase ensued, a police booking affidavit states.
Troopers had been informed the individuals in the vehicle were potentially armed and dangerous. The luxury sports car eventually pulled over and troopers performed a "high-risk stop," but the couple refused commands to get out of the vehicle, the affidavit states.
"The driver repeatedly said that he was going to keep driving to New York and to not pursue him," the affidavit says.
The couple eventually exited the vehicle and "several knives" the man was carrying were removed, troopers said. A SWAT team was called after the couple allegedly refused additional commands.
The man, who had been driving, kicked one officer in the face and another one in the chest to avoid being arrested, according to the affidavit. The couple was eventually arrested after officers deployed Tasers.
Ricardo Cora, 41, was booked into the Iron County Jail for investigation of possession of a stolen vehicle, failure to respond to an officer's signal to stop, two counts of assault on a police officer, interfering with an arresting officer and driving on a suspended license.
Jennifer Soto, 21, was booked for investigation of possession of a stolen vehicle, interfering with an arresting officer and failure to stop for police. Troopers said she is from Pennsylvania.
Cora had been released before trial "for shooting at police officers in California," the affidavit states.
Troopers have asked that the couple be held without bail because because they have no ties to Utah and would likely flee if they were released.
Contributing: Mark Jones
