Juvenile flees traffic stop, pursuit ends with detention after license plate match

Summit County deputies responded to a wide range of calls between Monday, December 8, and Sunday, December 14, the Sheriff’s Office reported, with the most notable incident occurring Saturday, December 13, when a juvenile driver fled a traffic stop. Deputies initiated a pursuit after observing a traffic violation, then terminated the chase when they lost sight of the car. An aerial search failed to locate the vehicle, but a license plate reader later identified the car. Deputies contacted the registered owner, discovered the driver was a juvenile, and took the juvenile into custody for transport to the Youth Detention Center.

Other incidents over the seven day period highlight both property crime and impaired driving concerns. On Sunday, December 14, deputies stopped a vehicle on S.R. 224 after identifying that the registered owner had active arrest warrants. That driver was taken into custody and transported to the Summit County Jail.

On Friday, December 12, a resident in the Snyderville Basin reported a vehicle burglary in which toolboxes and power tools were stolen overnight from the back of a truck. The Sheriff’s Office has not identified any suspects. That same day deputies responded to Bitner Road for a single vehicle accident. Officers observed signs of impairment, and after poor performance on field sobriety tests, the driver was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence and the car was impounded.

Earlier in the week on Monday, December 8, a hiker at Run A Muk reported her purse missing from her vehicle upon return. The vehicle had not been damaged and no suspects have been identified. Also on December 8 deputies attempted to stop a vehicle on S.R. 224 for a traffic violation. That vehicle pulled over, then made a U turn and fled. Deputies pursued onto Rasmussen Road and used a PIT maneuver to stop the car before it could access Interstate 80. Two occupants were taken into custody and booked into the Summit County Jail.

These incidents underline enforcement challenges for local law enforcement as winter recreation and holiday travel increase vehicle activity in the county. The successful use of a license plate reader in the juvenile case shows how technology can aid investigations after pursuits are called off for public safety. Residents are advised to secure valuables and vehicles, and to report suspicious activity promptly to Summit County Dispatch to help deputies respond and preserve evidence.