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- A stolen vehicle crashed into an innocent bystander in Salt Lake City.
- Police arrested Juan Arriero Medoza on outstanding warrants after the incident.
- Suspected stolen property was discovered in the wrecked vehicle.
SALT LAKE CITY — One man was hospitalized, one was arrested and a bystander was injured Tuesday when a man driving a stolen vehicle crashed into another car.
West Valley police were following up on leads on a vehicle reported as stolen when they spotted it in Salt Lake City on Tuesday about 8:50 p.m., according to West Valley police. Officers in unmarked vehicles, as well as the Department of Public Safety helicopter, followed the vehicle as an arrest plan was made.
When the vehicle stopped near 1100 West and 500 North and several people got out, officers made their move, said West Valley police spokeswoman Roxeanne Vainuku. But as police approached the men, several ran in different directions while one got back into the car and drove off, heading north on 900 West, she said.
Officers followed the vehicle but did not get into a pursuit — knowing the helicopter would be able to follow. At the intersection of 900 West and 300 North, however, the car collided with another vehicle.
Vainuku said the man driving the car that was hit was able to get out and was moving around when police arrived. He was taken to a local hospital to be treated for injuries that were not considered life-threatening and released.
The driver in the stolen car was also taken to a local hospital and admitted for undisclosed injuries that were not considered life-threatening, she said. That man, whose name was not immediately released, has at least one outstanding warrant and is being watched by agents with Adult Probation and Parole, Vainuku said. When he is released from the hospital, agents will be standing by to take him into custody. Any potential new charges will be screened by the Salt Lake County District Attorney's Office.
At the scene where the men ran off, officers tracked down 27-year-old Juan Arriero Medoza and arrested him on outstanding warrants. He was convicted of four counts of mail theft, a third-degree felony, in 2023 in one case, and theft by receiving stolen property, a second-degree felony, in a second case. A warrant was issued in September for failing to comply with the conditions of his probation.
Vainuku said suspected stolen property was found in the wrecked stolen vehicle.
