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 Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information.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.
BOUNTIFUL — A suspected drunken driver was arrested Sunday after police say he hit three officers' cars with a minivan as he tried to get away.
Bountiful police officers were told to look for a gray Dodge Caravan driven by Jeffrey Lawrence Nelson, 42, after reports he may have been driving under the influence Sunday afternoon, according to a Davis County Jail report.
An officer attempted to pull Nelson over at 577 N. 200 West, and initially it appeared the man was going to stop, according to the report.
Instead, the officer watched as "the vehicle's reverse lights came on, and a moment later the brake lights went off, and (Nelson) accelerated backward into my vehicle, striking my front bumper and push bar," the report states.
Nelson ignored further efforts to stop him, including the officer driving into the minivan in an attempt to disable it, speeding away on 325 West and pulling into a parking lot, the report states. Another officer pulled in front of the van after Nelson drove into a parking lot but was hit as Nelson drove around the police vehicle.
Nelson drove west on 400 North, pulling onto the sidewalk to get around another vehicle stopped at the 500 West intersection, crossing a convenience store parking lot and heading for the freeway, police reported.
(An officer) observed what he believed was (Nelson) driving straight toward the fishermen and feared for their safety, and struck (Nelson's) vehicle in the side, causing him to avoid striking the fishermen.
–Jail report
The minivan's speed topped 90 mph as officers pursued Nelson on I-15 and onto U.S. 89, the report states. Nelson swerved around spike strips police had laid, turning around and ramming a pursing officer and then backing into another driver, according to the report.
Nelson drove off headed north on U.S. 89 until he reached South Weber, pulling onto South Weber Drive, into a parking lot and down an embankment toward two fishermen standing by a truck, the report states.
"(An officer) observed what he believed was (Nelson) driving straight toward the fishermen and feared for their safety, and struck (Nelson's) vehicle in the side, causing him to avoid striking the fishermen," the report states.
The minivan was disabled when Nelson drove into a gate, according to the report. Police arrested Nelson, who was found to have a blood-alcohol level of .248, slurred speech and bloodshot eyes, police said.
Nelson was booked into Davis County Jail for investigation of assault against a police officer, aggravated assault, driving under the influence, failure to stop at an officer's command, failure to remain at the scene of an accident, reckless driving and criminal mischief.
