This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2015, and information in the article may be outdated.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.
What began as a routine traffic stop escalated into an abortive high-speed, wrong-way chase onto Interstate 15, a crash and subsequent arrests of three street gang members, Ogden police say.
Ogden police Lt. Will Cragun said a green Jeep Grand Cherokee was spotted driving recklessly about 5:45 p.m. Sunday near G Avenue and west 25th Street. However, when officers attempted to pull the vehicle over, it sped away. Public safety concerns resulted in a decision to break off pursuit.
However, the suspect vehicle was spotted soon after entering the northbound off-ramp of I-15 at 24th Street, heading into oncoming traffic. Utah Highway Patrol troopers were notified, and soon thereafter located the Jeep, crashed, on the freeway near 31st Street.
The three occupants — males 30 and 24 years old, and a 19-year-old female, all affiliated with the Ogden Trece gang — attempted to flee the one-vehicle accident scene on foot. Two were quickly taken into custody while the third was tracked to nearby Fort Buenaventura Park and arrested.
While an Ogden police officer was treated for lacerations to his hands sustained while hopping a fence during the foot pursuit, no other injuries were reported.
The suspects were booked into the Weber County jail, where they remained Monday on suspicion of fleeing police, fleeing the scene of an accident and possession of drug paraphernalia.
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