WEST VALLEY CITY -
A man who escaped police custody crashed a stolen squad car while in a high-speed chase with West Valley Police and highway patrol along Highway 201. The suspect, Phuong Hoang Le, was initially in police custody at the Valley Fair Mall for alleged voyeurism -- allegedly taking pictures of young girls on his cell phone. Police say that when Le was arrested he soon complained of having difficulty breathing while in the officer's squad car. The officer in charge pulled over and called for paramedics. Police say the suspect moved into the front seat of the vehicle. And when the officer went around to the front of the vehicle to confront the suspect he was punched in the face.
"The suspect punched the officer in the face and put the car into drive and took off," said West Valley Police Lt. John Coyle. "He was able to get out of his handcuffs somehow."
The suspect took off heading north on Bangerter Highway with several police cars in pursuit. The suspect then got on Highway 201 and headed west where his tire was punctured by spike strips laid out by highway patrol. With one tire flattened, police nudged the suspect's car from behind until the suspect lost control and careened into a drainage ditch around 7200 West.
Police were able to detain and arrest the suspect after the crash.
FOX 13's Max Roth reports.
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"The suspect punched the officer in the face and put the car into drive and took off," said West Valley Police Lt. John Coyle. "He was able to get out of his handcuffs somehow."
The suspect took off heading north on Bangerter Highway with several police cars in pursuit. The suspect then got on Highway 201 and headed west where his tire was punctured by spike strips laid out by highway patrol. With one tire flattened, police nudged the suspect's car from behind until the suspect lost control and careened into a drainage ditch around 7200 West.
Police were able to detain and arrest the suspect after the crash.
FOX 13's Max Roth reports.
SEND US YOUR NEWS, WEATHER AND SPORTS PICTURES! www.fox13now.com/pics
FOLLOW US ON TWITTER! @fox13now
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