Bystander Pushes Thief To The Ground In A Foot Pursuit, Helping Police With The Arrest
- Travis Uresk
- Oct 4, 2024
- 3 min read
By Travis Uresk
10/4/24
| Vernal, Ut. | October 2nd, 2024 |
Vernal City Police were notified of a theft at the 7-Eleven at 501 East Main Street, Vernal, Utah.
While Officer Nielsen was en route to the address, Officer Elmer located a male fitting the description dispatch had given of the shoplifter. Officer Nielsen proceeded to his partner's location when he radioed that he was now on foot pursuit with the male subject near 200 South 500 East.
A bystander who had followed the male subject from 7-Eleven shoved him down to the ground and assisted Officer Elmer until Officer Nielsen arrived. When he arrived, the officer identified the suspect as 31-year-old Dakota Michael Melton from previous encounters.
Dakota was then medically evaluated due to injuries sustained from being pushed down.
Officer Nielsen proceeded to 7-Eleven, where he spoke with the employee who was working when Dakota attempted to steal items from the store.
The employee stated that Dakota had been in shortly before midnight the previous day and had taken a fountain drink. The employee said Dakota then came back around 6:30 this morning and attempted to take some beer but was stopped by a customer. He then left the store for a short period of time and then returned shortly after, where he grabbed a can of soda off the shelf and attempted to leave. At the door, a customer went to stop Dakota, resulting in him dropping the drink. That is when he left the store and was found by Officer Elmer.
After a criminal history check by Officer Nielsen, this charge was enhanced to a third-degree felony due to a previous felony theft charge in the last ten years.
Dakota was booked into the Uintah County Jail for Retail Theft, which was enhanced to a third-degree felony, and a class A misdemeanor for Failing to stop at the command of a peace officer.
Officer Nielsen stated in the affidavit of probable cause, “I am asking for the courts to be aware that Dakota Melton has four felony theft charges pending with no disposition along with a class A misdemeanor criminal mischief charge pending with no disposition. Due to this information, I am concerned with the safety of the public due to Dakota continually committing crimes and ending up back out in the public."
Dakota Melton was later released.
On 10/3/24, Officer Elmer was dispatched to assist Uintah County Deputies at the Ashley Regional Medical Center at 150 W 100 N.
When the officer arrived at the medical center, the deputies had 31-year-old Dakota Michael Melton in custody inside the hospital.
Officer Elmer was informed that Deputies had transported him to ARMC for a courtesy transport for North Eastern Service to be medically cleared after he was pink-sheeted by medical personnel.
Dakota was let out of handcuffs to be placed into North Eastern care outside the hospital, and he then attempted to run from the hospital. Deputies then caught up with Dakota and stopped him from running off.
During that time, Dakota then struck one of the deputies in the face with a closed fist.
Dakota was then placed back into custody and handcuffed.
Dakota was transported to the Uintah County Jail, where he was charged with assault on a peace officer.
Dakota Melton was later released.
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