A DWR Officer Chases Down A Jeep Cherokee And Arrests The Man At The Lapoint Store

Posted by Travis Uresk | Feb. 5th, 2023 | Drugs & Speeding |

By Travis Uresk

2/5/23

Lapoint, Ut.- On 01/29/2023, DWR Officer Lilga was patrolling on Whiterocks highway near highway 121 junction in Uintah County, Utah.

Officer Lilga saw a black Jeep Cherokee turn southbound from Highway 121 onto the Whiterocks/Highway 121 junction east of milepost 15. The black Jeep Cherokee accelerated at a high rate of speed.

Officer Lilga checked his odometer at 58 mph, accelerated to a speed of 80 mph, and observed the distance between his patrol vehicle and the black Jeep Cherokee increase. He then accelerated to 90 mph and observed the distance between his patrol vehicle and the black Jeep Cherokee decrease.

The Officer closed the distance between their vehicles and observed an approximate speed of 85 mph. The posted speed limit on highway 121 is 60 mph. Officer Lilga paced the vehicle until it turned left onto Highway 121 eastbound. Again he observed the vehicle accelerate at a high rate of speed.

Officer Lilga paced the vehicle and observed its speed at 80mph. At this time, Officer Lilga activated his emergency lights and siren and attempted to stop the black Jeep Cherokee at milepost 19 on Highway 121.

The vehicle decreased its speed to 60 mph but did not stop. Officer Lilga moved his patrol vehicle over so he could see the driver's mirror clearly. The vehicle again did not stop. Officer Lilga moved his patrol vehicle over, so the passenger side mirror was in clear view. The vehicle did not stop.

Oncoming traffic activated their flashers and attempted to pull off the road, and the black Jeep Cherokee continued operating at 60 mph. The shoulder was clear of snow and allowed plenty of room to pull off the road.

As they passed 7500 east, the suspect turned off Highway 121, and Officer Lilga followed the vehicle for approximately two and a half miles before terminating the pursuit.

Officer Lilga relocated the black Jeep Cherokee at the LaPoint Store and attempted a traffic stop.

The Jeep Cherokee was parked in front of the store facing west, the driver's door was open, and a male suspect was outside by the vending machine. Officer Lilga met the suspect in front of his vehicle and placed him under arrest.

While searching Jerod Authur Young, He admitted to having drugs in his possession. Officer Lilga found two small clear plastic bags in his front left pants pocket and a black and white glass pipe in the suspect's lower left jacket pocket.

The substance inside one bag tested positive for Heroin. The residue on the glass pipe tested positive for methamphetamine. The suspect was booked without incident into the Uintah County jail for fleeing, two Counts of Possession of a controlled substance (Heroin and Meth), speeding, and Drug Paraphernalia.