Driver arrested in Magna car-surfing incident

MAGNA — A man who police say was behind the wheel while several teenage girls were "car surfing" may face child abuse charges after officers say he unexpectedly did a doughnut with his vehicle, sending the girls flying.

Monday evening, a woman in the area of 3650 South and 7700 West spotted a car moving down the street about 25 mph with one girl hanging on the hood and three others hanging on other areas outside the car, said Unified Police Lt. Don Hutson.

The car continued into a nearby church parking lot where the vehicle accelerated into a turn, almost as if the driver was doing a doughnut, he said. The girls were all flung off the vehicle and landed on the asphalt.

The witness dialed 911. While she was on the phone, the 18-year-old driver looked at her and threatened her to mind her own business and get off the phone, Hutson said.

A few hours later, an officer in the same general area came across a vehicle with no license plate and two boys and two girls inside. The girls all had black scuff marks, bruises and large bumps on their heads, Hutson said.

The driver initially told the officer they were all involved in hit and run accidents before investigators determined he was actually the one driving during the hood-surfing incident.

Jonathan Stephens was booked into the Salt Lake County Jail for investigation of witness tampering and four counts of reckless endangerment. Because all of the girls were 14 and 15 years old, Hutson said felony child abuse charges could possibly be considered.

— Pat Reavy