Cops find violent fugitive in a West Valley City car trunk

A joint law enforcement task force was on high alert as it closed in Wednesday afternoon on a violent gang-affiliated fugitive known to carry and use firearms.

What they found during a Wednesday afternoon traffic stop in West Valley City, drenched in sweat inside the super-heated trunk of a car, was a 24-year-old Rubel Gregory Quintana Jr. After more than two weeks on the lam, his surrender was quick and peaceful, said Unified Police Lt. Lex Bell.

"It was, what, the mid-90s out there ... Can you imagine what it was inside that trunk? That shows you how determined he was not to get caught," Bell said Thursday.

Driving the car was the suspect's brother, Joseph Quintana, 23. He also was arrested and booked into the Salt Lake County jail on suspicion of obstruction of justice. A female passenger, Nicole Renteria, 26, was taken into custody on suspicion of possessing heroin.

Rubel "Rebel" Quintana, listed by police as a member of the QVO street gang, was being held in jail Thursday on $101,313 bail. He has been charged with first-degree felony attempted homicide, stemming from a 2013 vehicle shooting incident; second-degree felony robbery and firearms-related charges; third-degree possession of drugs with intent to distribute; and numerous drug and drug paraphernalia possession counts.

Quintana had been out on bail pending court proceedings related to a July 15 car chase and robbery in Salt Lake City. UPD officers then had used tire spikes and finally a PIT maneuver — where a police vehicle intentionally rams the suspect vehicle to force a stop — to end the chase and arrest Quintana.

When he failed to show for a court appearance earlier this month, an arrest warrant was issued. Given his gang affiliation and violent past, his case was turned over to a special joint UPD-U.S. Marshals Office task force.

Tipped that Quintana would be in the car, officers located the vehicle and pulled it over at 3 p.m. Wednesday. Six detectives, guns drawn, approached the vehicle and then discovered their fugitive in the sweltering trunk.

Quintana is scheduled to make his first appearance Aug. 18 before 3rd District Judge Randall Skanchy.

remims@sltrib.com

Twitter: @remims