Police: Man arrested for theft of golf cart says it was a ‘joy ride’

Stock image | Photo by _LeS_, iStock/Getty Images Plus, St. George News

ST. GEORGE — A man who told police he was just going for a “joy ride” in a city-owned golf cart was arrested Wednesday.

Police arrested Ian Nathaniel Shaw, 36, of St. George, on charges of theft, failing to stop on an officer’s command and trespassing.

Ian Nathaniel Shaw, 36, of St. George, bookings photo | Photo courtesy of Washington County Sheriff’s Office, St. George News

Employees at the St. George Waste Services Department, at 2170 West Treatment Plant Rd., noticed Shaw trespassing on the property and called police during the late afternoon, according to a probable cause statement written in support of the arrest.

Employees told police that Shaw began operating a city-owned golf cart at the plant.

In an attempt to stop him, several employees boxed him in with other vehicles, which caused Shaw to get out of the cart and run toward an open field near the SunRiver Club House, according to the police report.

As responding police circulated the area, they located Shaw walking in the Virgin River.

Officers told Shaw he was being detained and to walk toward them. According to the probable cause statement, he initially refused to follow police orders before officers managed to take him into custody.

When asked why he refused to follow orders, Shaw allegedly told the arresting officer that he was told by a friend that police can’t arrest somebody who’s in the river.

“Ian also stated he did not ‘steal’ a golf cart,” the officer wrote. “He claimed he only rode it around the property ‘joy riding.’”

Police charged Shaw with one third degree felony count of theft for allegedly stealing the golf cart, estimated to be valued at $3,000. He was also charged with misdemeanor counts of failing to stop on officer command and trespassing.

Shaw was booked into Purgatory Correctional Facility and subsequently released on $7,500 bond.

According to Utah court records, Shaw has faced numerous charges in Salt Lake and Duchesne counties relating to theft, assault and drug violations.

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

Email: [email protected]

Twitter: @STGnews

Copyright St. George News, SaintGeorgeUtah.com LLC, 2018, all rights reserved.

Free News Delivery by Email

Would you like to have the day's news stories delivered right to your inbox every evening? Enter your email below to start!

8 Comments

  • PlanetU April 8, 2018 at 9:20 pm

    Find some new friends…..and you’re 36? Grow up.

  • ladybugavenger April 9, 2018 at 5:40 am

    Can’t arrest you if your in the river? Lol.
    Where do people come up with this stuff. They will wait for you to come out lol

  • Sparky April 9, 2018 at 6:26 am

    Trespassing, Check. Failing to comply, Check. Criminal Mischief, Check. Acting like a teenager, Check. Theft, No. Come on guys.

    • Death Valley April 9, 2018 at 9:56 am

      Haha, yeah that charge will eventually be thrown out. Probably some overzealous cop who was mad he had to chase some fool out of the river. So they threw the theft charge at him. This is actually quite a humorous story on both sides.

  • mshaw April 9, 2018 at 7:36 am

    Oh he will find new friends in purgatory! ha

  • Larry April 9, 2018 at 8:27 am

    This reminds me of an old Andy Griffith episode featuring Ernest T. Bass. and as Barney said…He’s a Nut!

  • Dereck April 10, 2018 at 9:43 pm

    That’s my oldest brother. Trust me he’s an idiot lol. He must’ve thought a river was international waters…

    • Striker4 April 11, 2018 at 12:15 am

      this is a whole lot about nothing this will disappear at the drop of a hat

Leave a Reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.