'Routine' stops can be shockers

It wasn't a dramatic standoff or Waco-style ending that resulted in Warren Jeffs being brought into custody. Rather, it was a routine traffic stop for a minor violation that resulted in the arrest of one of the FBI's Ten Most Wanted.

But time after time, police say it's the seemingly smallest of mistakes that can lead to the big-time arrest of a dangerous fugitive on the run.

"You never know when the smallest traffic stop can turn into a huge arrest," said Salt Lake City police detective Robin Snyder.

The Utah Highway Patrol has a long history of seemingly routine stops turning into incidents that received national attention.

The most famous may have been on Aug. 16, 1975, when Sgt. Bob Hayward spotted a speeder on his way home from work. Rather than ignore it, he pursued the driver, who tried to flee.

The man was eventually caught and booked into jail for fleeing. His name was Ted Bundy . Investigators would later learn that by the time Bundy was pulled over that night, he had already killed 19 women in two years.

It wasn't until three years later that Bundy was caught for good in Florida. Again, it was an officer's instincts that led to the arrest. An officer near Pensacola spotted Bundy's vehicle, became suspicious and after running a check on the plates discovered the car was stolen.

Following a chase and struggle with Bundy, he was eventually arrested. Bundy was later executed in the electric chair.

On Oct. 4, 1982, Utah Highway Patrol trooper Les Langford attempted to pull over a man for speeding. A wild chase ensued. At one point, when troopers thought they had the man trapped, he began driving again and dragged a trooper who had his hand in the window.

The man, Dan Lafferty, was eventually arrested, convicted and sentenced to one to 15 years in prison, according to the UHP. He was released after 75 days.

Two years later, Lafferty and his brother, Ron, committed one of Utah's most heinous crimes, killing their brother's wife and her 1-year-old daughter.

"A simple violation can bring down some pretty big criminals," said UHP Sgt. Jeff Nigbur. "A little violation can go a long way."

The Nevada Highway Patrol troopers who made the stop were being praised for their heads-up actions in recognizing Jeffs.

Nigbur said that's exactly the reason troopers go through the training they do.

"You're trained to look just beyond the initial stop," he said. "You're actually trained to look for red flags. Sometimes you go by gut feeling."