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Man who led police on high-speed chase has numerous prior DUI incidents

Posted at 8:39 PM, Dec 11, 2014
and last updated 2014-12-11 22:39:51-05

UTAH COUNTY – Police arrested a man Thursday after he led officers on a high-speed chase that reached speeds in excess of 95 mph and spanned several cities, and the DUI charge the man faces is the latest in a string of DUI incidents.

According to information from the Utah County Sheriff’s Office, an officer stopped a man Thursday around 4:10 p.m. because he knew the man was driving on a suspended license, a result of previous arrests for DUI.

Kevin Val Christensen, 53, became agitated during the traffic stop and fled the scene. The deputy pursued, and other deputies helped give chase. The chase reached speeds of nearly 100 mph on Highway 89, and the suspect drove from Springville to Spanish Fork and then into Mapleton before winding up at his home in Springville.

An officer used a spike strip to disable one tire as the suspect passed through Mapleton, which caused the tire to deflate slowly. Once the man pulled into the driveway of his home he was combative and “strongly resisted” efforts to take him into custody. Christensen suffered abrasions to his forehead during the altercation.

The press release from the sheriff’s office states Christensen has a long criminal record that dates back to 1981, which includes at least five previous arrests for DUI—three of which resulted in convictions. His most recent arrest was for an alleged DUI on October 29 of this year. The man was also stopped for DUI last Saturday, but he fled from Mapleton police in that instance and could not be found.

The man was treated at a hospital before being booked into the Utah County Jail for the following charges: DUI-drugs, fleeing/evading, exhibition of speed, suspended driver license-per se, possession of methamphetamine by use, littering, resisting arrest and reckless driving. He was also booked on numerous traffic violations.