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Suspect, not Santa, jumps from roof to roof, running from Salt Lake police

Posted at 10:45 AM, Dec 09, 2016
and last updated 2016-12-09 19:07:01-05

SALT LAKE CITY - Is that you Santa Claus? No. It's a wanted suspect jumping from roof to roof, trying to escape police.

This roof-top take-down all started by a man who did not want to go back to jail.

Especially since he was only released less than a week before this latest arrest.

Benigno Lopez

Benigno Lopez

The drama started about 2:15 a.m, near 900 S. and 300 E. when metro gang detectives spotted a Volkswagen Jetta with no license plate and pulled over the driver.

The driver stopped and most of the occupants complied with police.

However, 30-year-old Benigno Lopez decided to make a run for it.

He took off down Roberta St., made his way onto the roof of one house and then started roof-jumping.

Salt Lake officers along with canine units set up a containment and it wasn't long before they spotted and surrounded Lopez.

At that point it was cold, he had lost one of his shoes and apparently the will to keep running.

Officers said Lopez was running because of outstanding arrest warrants and the fact he's currently on probation.

Police said he has a criminal history including arrests for drugs and weapons.

According to authorities, he will likely be facing new charges including running from police.

Meanwhile everyone else in the Volkswagen was released and the car was impounded.