Taylorsville stabbing leads to West Valley pursuit

A road-rage stabbing early Tuesday in Taylorsville led to a car crash and arrest in West Valley City a short time later in incidents that might involve related parties, police said.

A man was stabbed in the forearm by an unknown Hispanic man driving a dark, four-door car, believed to be a Honda, about 1:20 a.m., said Taylorsville Police detective Shannon Bennett.

The victim was driving east on 5400 South from 2700 West when the car his girlfriend was driving was cut off. At the stop light at 1900 West, the suspect and the victim got out of their cars, and "a confrontation ensued," police said.

The suspect stabbed the victim in the arm before returning to his car and driving away. The injured man drove himself to the hospital for treatment. While the identity of the knife-wielding man remains unknown, police said he left the knife behind.

"The knife was taken at the scene and will be looked at for forensic evidence to see if we can get some information from that," Bennett said.

About an hour later, a West Valley police officer spotted a car matching the description of the one in Taylorsville and stopped next to it at the intersection of Redwood Road and 2100 South, said West Valley Police Capt. Tom McLachlan.

"The driver looked at the officer and just punched it," McLachlan said. "He went through the red light, and the officer attempted to stop the car, but the car failed to stop for the officer."

At 500 South and Redwood Road, the vehicle attempted to make a right turn but slid on grass until hitting a 7-Eleven sign. Police said two of the three juveniles in the car were taken to local hospitals with minor injuries.

Police discovered the vehicle had been stolen earlier that night in West Jordan. They arrested the driver and booked him into a detention center on suspicion of auto theft, fleeing, possession of burglary tools and traffic offenses.

West Valley police are unsure if the two incidents are related.

"It could have just happened to be circumstantial, McLachlan said. "I don't know whether they are related or not."

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