This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2015, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
A late-night chase involving three law enforcement agencies ended with a Unified Police officer seriously injured and a fugitive behind bars.
West Valley City police spokeswoman Roxeanne Vainuku said that officers had staked out the home of an associate of the suspect, 31-year-old Tyrel Elsworth Cox. Cox, an ex-con wanted by Adult Probation and Parole on 13 felony warrants, was spotted driving away from the residence near 3100 South and 3200 West about 8:30 p.m. Wednesday.
WVCPD officers followed him, and because Cox had a history of fleeing law enforcement, also sought assistance from both the Utah Highway Patrol and UPD.
Seeing officers behind him, Cox allegedly sped away westbound on 3500 South until he reached 5600 West, where he turned north onto State Road 201. As speeds topped 80 mph, WVCPD officers decided to suspend their pursuit for public safety reasons; a UHP helicopter kept track of the suspect as he drove east on SR-201 and approached Bangerter Highway.
At Bangerter, UPD officers had just laid out tire spikes, which punctured at least one tire on Cox's vehicle. He continued to drive east on the highway, and as a UPD officer was attempting lay down additional spikes, the suspect allegedly veered toward him, struck the officer and then continued to drive.
Returning to SR-201, Cox then exited at 3200 West and onto southbound 2700 West where another UPD officer rammed his cruiser into the suspect's vehicle and finally brought the chase to an end. Cox surrendered without further incident and was being held without bail in the Salt Lake County Jail on suspicion of numerous felonies, including attempted aggravated murder, identity fraud, theft, fleeing police and drug- and firearms-related offenses.
UPD Lt. Lex Bell said the injured officer, a 12-year law enforcement veteran, was in fair condition Thursday, recovering from cuts, bruises and abrasions after the lower part of one of his legs was run over. He did not, however, suffer any broken bones and was expected to make a full recovery.
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