Christopher T. Alvey was clocked traveling 96 mph in a Saturn sedan in the eastbound lanes of the interstate on Oct. 27 by Sgt. Ron Johnson, of the Tooele County Sheriff’s Office.
Johnson, who was traveling in the opposite direction, flipped his squad car around and tried to initiate a traffic stop. Alvey, however, did not yield to Johnson’s lights or siren.
The chase that ensued reached speeds of approximately 102 mph, according to Johnson.
Backup officers spiked the interstate near Grantsville. Alvey drove through the spikes, which punctured all four of the Saturn’s tires, but continued driving another mile before coming to a stop.
Alvey told police he had been in Wendover with two friends who had eventually left him stranded without a way to get home. He said he found the Saturn with a key in the ignition in Wendover and took it to drive himself home to West Valley City, according to Johnson.
Johnson said, however, that a rear-door window on the passenger side of the vehicle was broken out, and officers discovered Alvey to be in possession of burglary tools.
Alvey was originally charged with third-degree felony failure to stop at the command of police, third-degree felony wrongful appropriation, and reckless driving and speeding — both misdemeanors. He plead guilty, however, to amended charges of class A misdemeanor wrongful appropriation and third-degree felony failure to stop at the command of police — a plea that will be held in abeyance for a period of 24 months. Should Alvey complete that 24-month period with no new violations and uphold a few other stipulations as ordered by Judge Stephen Henriod, those charges will be dismissed.
Alvey will appear for sentencing on the wrongful appropriation charge on Jan. 13.
Jamie Belnap: jamieb@tooeletranscript.com
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