Mug shot: Jonathan Cody Smith
UTAH COUNTY, Utah — A Taylorsville man led a deputy on a chase lasting nearly 38 miles in Utah County Monday morning, according to the Utah County Sheriff’s Office.
Sgt. Spencer Cannon of the Utah County Sheriff’s Office said the chase started in Saratoga Springs around 8:55 a.m., when a sergeant was preparing to turn left from Redwood Rd. onto Pony Express Parkway.
According to a news release from the sheriff’s office, a white GMC Yukon heading south on Redwood Rd. entered the median and passed cars waiting for the light to turn green to continue south.
The UCSO sergeant attempted to pull over the Yukon, the news release said, but the driver contined south on Redwood Rd., reaching speeds in excess of 100 mph.
Sgt. Cannon said there was very little traffic as deputies continued pursuing Smith.
“During the pursuit Smith repeatedly drove left of the center line, passed a car in a no passing zone, and ran a stop sign at the intersection of SR-68 and SR-6 in Elberta,” the news release said.
SR-68 ends in Elberta, and Cannon said Smith continued south on 12800 W, then went east on 17600 S. That road becomes Goshen Slant Road, which the news release describes as a very narrow, unmarked two-lane road.
Cannon said the Yukon driver, who he identified as 23-year-old Jonathan Cody Smith, lost control of the vehicle, crashed into a fence and fled on foot.
Deputies chased Smith and took him into custody without further incident.
According to the news release, Smith suffered minor injuries and he was taken by ambulance to to Utah Valley Regional Medical Center in Provo.
Upon his release from the hospital, Smith is expected to be booked into jail on the following charges:
- failure to stop for emergency vehicle
- DUI – Drugs
- 2 counts of possession of ID documents of another person
- unlawful possession of a financial transaction card
- possession of lost/stolen/mislaid property
- failure to maintain lane of travel
- unsafe passing
- passing in a no passing zone
- failure to stop on red light
- failure to stop at stop sign, failure to signal
- no brake light
- obstructed license plate
- no proof of insurance
- failure to remain at the scene of an accident
- possession of methamphetamine
- possession of drug paraphernalia
- exhibition of speed
- reckless driving
Deputies discoved Smith also had three arrest warrants from the 3rd District Court in Salt Lake City. Each of the warrants were from incidents in 2015 and they were each $25,000, cash-only warrants.
According to the news release, the charges on those warrants include:
- theft
- burglary
- giving false personal identity to a peace officer
- carrying a concealed weapon on a bus
- possession of firearm by a restricted person
- possession of drug paraphernalia
- theft of services
- theft by receiving
- arson
The news release said Smith, who is on felony probation, has previously been convicted of robbery, assault, burglary, receiving stolen property, drug possession and arson.
[Editor’s Note: An earlier version of this story stated Smith is from Magna, which was the information provided by Utah County officials at the time.]
