West Valley man accused in car theft, said it was too cold to walk

WEST VALLEY CITY — A man who crashed into a tree and some mail boxes following a police chase in October, told officers he stole the car because it was too cold to walk home, court charges state.

West Valley City police said they were pursuing the 38-year-old man in a vehicle he reportedly stolen Oct. 16, according to charges filed Monday in 3rd District Court. The chase ended when the man crashed into a tree and some mail boxes near 524 W. Parkway Blvd.

The man told officers he stole the car because "he didn't want to walk home in the cold," charges state. He also told them he heard the sirens and saw the flashing lights, but decided he'd gamble on getting away.

Police found a gram of marijuana in the car and a marijuana pipe in the man's pocket, charges state.

The West Valley man faces charges of theft, failure to respond to officer's signal to stop, possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.