Speeding, evading in stolen car leads to arrest of Las Vegas man

Background photo of Interstate 15 at night, St. George, Utah, circa September 2013 | Photo by Bryn Parastino, Image composite by St. George News

ST. GEORGE — A Las Vegas man is in custody Saturday morning after a pursuit and search that involved both the Utah Highway Patrol and the St. George Police Department.

Jalen Bethae of Las Vegas was arrested Saturday morning on various charges, including evading arrest and stealing a car. St. George, Utah, October 24, 2015 | Photo courtesy of Washington County Sheriff's Office, St. George News
Jalen Bethae of Las Vegas was arrested Saturday morning on various charges, including evading arrest and stealing a car. St. George, Utah, October 24, 2015 | Photo courtesy of Washington County Sheriff’s Office, St. George News

A yellow Volkswagen Beetle reported stolen out of Las Vegas, Nevada, was observed by UHP troopers Friday at 11 p.m. speeding northbound on Interstate 15 from the Arizona-Utah border, UHP Sgt. Mary Kaye Lucas said. The car was clocked at 98 mph in a 75 mph zone. Troopers attempted to stop the car but the driver would not pull over.

Troopers were unable to deploy spike strips in time, Lucas said. The driver of the Volkswagen exited at Dixie Drive and headed west.

The driver then abandoned the Volkswagen on W. Mathis Park Place in St. George and ran away, Lucas said. Officers and troopers set up a containment area searching for the driver.

The driver, Jalen Bethae, 21, of Las Vegas was discovered at 12:20 a.m. Saturday by St. George Police officers, Lucas said, and arrested by a UHP trooper without further incident.

Bethae was booked into Washington County Purgatory Correctional Facility on charges of possessing or receiving a stolen car, evading officers, reckless driving and various drug charges. He is being held with $17,040 bail required for his release pending trial and, as this report is published, remains in custody according to published booking records.

Persons arrested or charged are presumed innocent until found guilty in a court of law or as otherwise decided by a trier-of-fact.

This report is based on preliminary information provided by law enforcement or other emergency responders and may not contain the full scope of findings.

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Copyright St. George News, SaintGeorgeUtah.com LLC, 2015, all rights reserved.

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