This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2017, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
West Valley City police say when they stopped a car with a suspected armed fugitive inside, he and two companions ignored repeated demands to exit and surrender.
Then things got spicy, and not in a good way; officers fired pepper balls into the vehicle, and soon the trio were in tears — and handcuffs.
WVCPD spokeswoman Roxeanne Vainuku said the incident began about 8:40 p.m. after a traffic stop at 3130 S. Scottsdale Drive (3920 West). Officers pulled over the car after spotting 25-year-old Cesar Orlando Mendez-Parra inside.
After numerous surrender demands were made over a bullhorn, the pepper balls finally were fired into the vehicle, forcing the three out. Officers recovered a firearm and an undisclosed amount of methamphetamine, Vainuku said.
Mendez-Parra, a Mexican national on the run since a warrant for his arrest was issued on April 13, was booked into the Salt Lake County jail on slew of felony and misdemeanor charges, ranging from possession of a stolen firearm, possession of a stolen vehicle and burglary to numerous drug- and traffic-related violations.
He remained behind bars Thursday in lieu of $20,350 bail.
Vainuku said the other two occupants of the car were decontaminated, questioned and released.
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