This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2015, and information in the article may be outdated.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.
Unified Police, aided by dog teams, searched Friday for a suspect who allegedly tried to run down an officer at a gas station closed off an area north of the Redwood Road campus of Salt Lake Community College Friday morning.
UPD Lt. Lex Bell said 42-year-old Ronald Noel, wanted on an arrest warrant for probation violation, also led officers on a high-speed chase exceeding 90 mph before abandoning a suspected stolen vehicle near the Taylorsville campus shortly after 6 a.m.
The incident began when Noel was spotted at a gas station near Redwood Road and 5600 South. A UPD officer recognized him, but he allegedly provided a false identity when questioned. As the officer quietly called for backup, the suspect went inside the business.
The backup officer arrived as Noel came back out, and when the suspect saw the additional officer he allegedly panicked, jumped behind the wheel and began to drive off. The first officer grabbed Noel before he could close the driver's side door and tried to pull him out, but Noel managed to put the vehicle into reverse, Bell said.
The officer, who sustained some scrapes and bruises, hung on for a short distance before dropping to the asphalt, barely rolling out of the path of the tires as the suspect sped away, Bell said.
Both officers then gave chase, the pursuit heading north on Redwood to 4200 South before Noel turned into a residential area and abandoned the car near 2200 West and 4350 South.
Bell said Noel — identified by UPD as a white supremacist with a long criminal record ranging from drug-related offenses and credit card and identity fraud to auto theft and fleeing police — was not known to be armed. Nonetheless, he was considered dangerous due to his alleged actions. Anyone with information on his whereabouts is asked to call 911 or UPD direct at 801-743-7000.
Twitter: @remims