Slow-speed chase ends in man's arrest

PROVO — Orem police arrested a man on investigation of aggravated assault Saturday after a slow-speed chase through two cities and a three-hour standoff in front of Utah Valley Regional Medical Center.

Police from both Provo and Orem blocked off 500 West from Bulldog Boulevard (1230 North) to 800 North during the standoff, snarling traffic until police detoured motorists around the hospital area. The man remained in his car during the stalemate, Orem Police Lt. Phil Murphy said.

"Police requested that we clear the west lobby of the hospital — that's the main entrance to the hospital. We locked it down, but the rest of the hospital remained open," hospital spokeswoman Janet Frank said. "We knew police had it under control."

During the chase, police spiked all four of the car's tires on Columbia Boulevard. The car continued around the corner onto 500 West and collided with a Provo police cruiser, Murphy said. No injuries were reported in the slow-speed crash.

Police called in negotiators and the SWAT team, then tossed a cell phone into the man's car so police could communicate with him.

"Time was out best ally," Murphy said.

The Saturday afternoon drama began to unfold when the man, 27, drove to an off-duty Orem police officer's home about 1:30 p.m., engaged him in conversation, then put a gun to his own head, Murphy said. The police officer backed off. After making sure his family was safe, the officer called 911.

The off-duty officer teaches police academy classes at Utah Valley State College, a satellite school of the Salt Lake City academy, and the suicidal man was briefly his student, Murphy said.

"He knew what kind of response he would get. It appeared he was trying to get into a 'suicide-by-cop' situation," he said.

About 5:10 p.m., the man got out of his car and obeyed officers' commands as they took him into custody. He was transported to the Orem holding cell for preliminary interviews, then booked into Utah County Jail, Murphy said. No shots were fired.

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