WEST JORDAN, Utah -- A man has been arrested after he led Unified Police on a high-speed chase on Saturday night starting around 9:30 p.m.
A Unified Police Officer pulled over a man driving a black Mitsubishi Lancer at 6200 South Airport Road. Police said the officer recognized the man in the car as 27-year-old Matthew Garcia, who police have dealt with in the past. Police said the man has been known to be violent. There was a female passenger in the car as well.
Police said the man fled the traffic stop and led police on chase down 7800 South. At the intersection of 7800 South and 4800 West Garcia’s vehicle hit another car.
Garcia then drove through a vinyl fence into a backyard and then into the front yard of 7757 Village Glenn Drive. Garcia and the female passenger tried to flee on foot after damage to the vehicle disabled it and it caught fire.
Lt. Justin Hoyal, Unified Police Department, said they are working to understand why the female fled.
"Right now our officers are talking with her to determine exactly what took place during this argument that she was having with this male, and why she ran from the scene--if it was to get away from him following the pursuit and get to a safe location," he said.
The female was not charged. Garcia was booked into jail on 13 misdemeanor charges and three felony charges, including reckless driving, criminal mischief, DUI with any measurable controlled substance and drug paraphernalia, according to a probable cause statement from the Salt Lake County Sheriff's Office.
According to the same document, officers reported that Garcia appeared to be high on methamphetamine at the time of his arrest, and a bag with meth residue was found in the vehicle. Garcia is a Board of Pardons fugitive.
The driver in the vehicle Garcia hit was released at the scene with minor injuries.
